Alquerque on the Floor: Strategy After the Effort
Students play alquerque in pairs, the Andalusi board game described in Alfonso X's Book of Games, on a board drawn in chalk on the floor. Sitting down and breathing calmly, they bring their heart rate down while solving a strategy problem.
How to play
- Sitting next to their chalk board (5 x 5 points with diagonals), each student takes their pulse for 15 seconds and writes it on the worksheet (1 min).
- Explain the rules: each side has 12 bottle caps, pieces move to an empty neighboring point along the lines, and you capture by jumping over an opponent's piece, as in checkers (2 min).
- 2v2 game: each pair quietly agrees before each move, with slow nasal breathing between moves (5 min).
- Second pulse check; each pair writes down one key move that won or lost them the advantage (1 min).
- Quick wrap-up: what alquerque, checkers and other board games from students' families have in common (1 min).
Rules
- Play seated or kneeling, without getting up mid-game.
- Pairs talk quietly to keep the calm atmosphere.
- If a capture is required and a player misses it, the opponent may remove that piece.
- When finished, put the caps back in their bag before erasing the board.
Variations
Easier
Play with 8 pieces per side on half of the board.
Standard
Full 2v2 game with 12 pieces per side and pulse checks at the start and end.
Harder
Each pair has only 20 seconds to decide every move.
Adaptations
- Wheelchair user: draw the board on a table or on a large sheet of paper at their height.
- Visual impairment: use caps with different textures for each side, and the partner describes the position.
- Autism: gets the rules sheet and a drawing of the legal moves before starting.
Learning goals
- Bring heart rate back to resting level after the main activity.
- Anticipate the opponent's moves and plan several moves ahead.
- Recognize alquerque as cultural heritage shared across Mediterranean cultures.
Equipment for a class of 25
- chalk: 7
- plastic bottle caps: 170
- worksheets: 28
Teacher tip
Ask students to bring bottle caps in two colors the week before; about 170 is enough for seven boards. If it rains, the same activity works in the classroom on paper boards.
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