Board games
Plakoto
Pin lone checkers; pin the mother to win double
Plakoto is the pinning game of Greece and Cyprus. Each player starts with all 15 checkers on the other’s first point and nobody is ever hit: landing on a lone opposing checker pins it under yours until you leave. Pin your opponent’s last checker on its starting point — the mother — and the game is yours, double.
- Players
- 2 players
- Length
- 10–20 min per match
- Type
- Board games
Play Plakoto online with friends
At Masa, Plakoto 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.
- 5
The mother: your last checker on the starting point. Pinned there, you lose the game double — unless the pinner still has checkers on its own start. Both mothers pinned: a tie, no points.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plakoto the same game as Tavla?
No. Plakoto 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 Plakoto online with friends?
Yes. Open a Plakoto table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Plakoto free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
