How to Play Jungle (Dou Shou Qi)
Jungle, called Dou Shou Qi (斗兽棋, "fighting animals chess") in Chinese, is a two-player strategy game from China. Each side has eight animals, and stronger animals capture weaker ones. It is quick to learn, which makes it a favourite first board game for children, but it has real tactics.
The board
The board has 7 columns and 9 rows:
- Two rivers in the middle, each 2 squares wide and 3 squares long. The centre column and the two outer columns between them are land.
- At each end, a den in the middle of the back row.
- Around each den, three traps: one on each side and one in front.
Red sits at the bottom and moves first.
The animals
Each side has eight animals. From strongest to weakest:
| Rank | Animal |
|---|---|
| 8 | Elephant |
| 7 | Lion |
| 6 | Tiger |
| 5 | Leopard |
| 4 | Wolf |
| 3 | Dog |
| 2 | Cat |
| 1 | Rat |
On kawu every piece shows its rank number as well as its name, so you never have to remember the order.
Moving
- On your turn, move one animal one square up, down, left or right. No diagonal moves.
- Only the rat swims. It can move into, through and out of the rivers.
- The lion and tiger leap across a river in a straight line (along a row or a column), landing on the first land square on the other side. They can capture by leaping. A leap is blocked if any rat is in the water on the way.
- You may not move into your own den.
Capturing
- Move onto an enemy animal of equal or lower rank to capture it.
- The rat can capture the elephant, but the elephant can't capture the rat.
- A rat in the river can't capture an animal on land, and a rat on land can't capture a rat in the water.
- An animal standing in one of the enemy's traps (the traps around the enemy's den) has rank 0: any defending animal can capture it. In your own traps your animals keep their normal rank.
Winning
- Move any animal into the enemy den and you win.
- You also win if you capture all of your opponent's animals, or if your opponent has no legal move.
- Draws (kawu's convention, since the traditional rules don't say): the same position with the same player to move a third time, or 100 moves by each side without a capture.
On kawu
Play against the computer at three levels, two players on one device, or online with a friend using a room link. Undo and hints are there when you play the computer.
Frequently asked questions
Can the rat capture the elephant in Jungle?
Yes. The rat is the weakest animal but it can capture the elephant, and the elephant can't capture the rat. A rat in the river can't capture anything on land, though.
Can the lion jump over the river if a rat is in the water?
No. The lion and the tiger leap straight across a river, but any animal in the water on their path (only rats can be there) blocks the leap.
Can an animal enter its own den?
No. You may never move into your own den. Moving any animal into the enemy's den wins the game at once.
Last updated 2026-10-19