Board games
Mahbusa
Trap lone checkers under yours, no hitting
Mahbusa — “imprisoned” — is how Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan play the pinning game. All 15 checkers start on the opponent’s first point and nobody is hit: land on a lone opposing checker and it is locked under yours until you move on. Trap checkers in your home board and bear off while they wait.
- Players
- 2 players
- Length
- 10–20 min per match
- Type
- Board games
Play Mahbusa online with friends
At Masa, Mahbusa 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 your opponent’s first point and the players move in opposite directions. Bring them home and bear them off first. The match goes to 3 points.
- 2
Opening roll: each player rolls one die; the higher one rolls both dice and starts. Each game’s winner opens the next one.
- 3
No hitting: land on a lone opposing checker to pin it under yours. A pinned checker can’t move until your checker leaves; a pinner or any two checkers hold a point.
- 4
You can bear off only when all your checkers, pinned ones too, are in your home board.
House rules
Pick any of these when you create a table; a table that changes none plays the rules above.
- First checker — Your first checker reaches home before any other moves
Frequently asked questions
Is Mahbusa the same game as Tavla?
No. Mahbusa 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 Mahbusa online with friends?
Yes. Open a Mahbusa table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Mahbusa free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
