Board games
Gul Bara
No hitting, and every double climbs to 6-6
Gul Bara — Gülbahar in Turkish — is played from Bulgaria to Azerbaijan. Both players start with all 15 checkers on one point and race the same way round the board, and there is no hitting: a single checker holds its point. From the fourth roll a double climbs: 3-3 gives four 3s, then four 4s, 5s and 6s — and if a number is blocked, the rest is lost.
- Players
- 2 players
- Length
- 10–20 min per match
- Type
- Board games
Play Gul Bara online with friends
At Masa, Gul Bara is a game of its own right next to Tavla: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
All 15 checkers start on one point. Race them round, bring them home and bear them off first. The match goes to 3 points.
- 2
Both players move the same way round the board, starting from opposite corners.
- 3
No hitting: a single checker holds its point. You may neither land on it nor touch down on it in a combined move.
- 4
From a game’s 4th roll, a double climbs: play it four times, then every higher double four times up to 6-6 (3-3: four 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s). The first three rolls play doubles as usual.
- 5
If a number can’t be played four times, your turn ends and the rest of the climb is lost.
House rules
Pick any of these when you create a table; a table that changes none plays the rules above.
- Blocked double — Rest is lost · Opponent plays it
Frequently asked questions
Is Gul Bara the same game as Tavla?
No. Gul Bara is played at the same kind of table as Tavla, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Gul Bara online with friends?
Yes. Open a Gul Bara table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Gul Bara free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
