How to play Game of the Generals

A complete first-game guide to Henerals

1

Build your line

Place all 21 pieces in the three rows nearest you. Any valid arrangement is allowed, with six empty squares.

2

Move one square

On your turn, move one piece one square up, down, left or right. Pieces never move diagonally or jump.

3

Challenge

Move onto an enemy square. Both ranks are compared; the weaker piece leaves. Equal ranks remove each other, except an attacking flag captures the defending flag.

4

Win the field

Capture the enemy flag, force a position with no legal move, win on time, or bring your flag to the farthest row and let it survive the opponent's next turn.

What is Game of the Generals?

Game of the Generals, also called Salpakan, is a two-player Filipino strategy game with hidden ranks. Each army has 21 pieces on an eight-row, nine-column board. Your opponent sees a matching back on every piece, so you have to infer identities from movement and challenges.

Henerals brings that game to your browser, iPhone and iPad, with Android in closed beta. You can practice without an account, then sign in for online opponents, friends and saved formations.

Try these three challenges

Spy versus General: the spy survives. Spies defeat every officer.

Private versus Spy: the private survives. This is the private’s special advantage.

Captain versus Captain: both pieces leave the board. Equal ranks eliminate each other, except when one flag attacks another.

These examples show both identities for teaching. In a match, an opponent’s rank stays hidden even after a challenge. See the complete piece and rank guide for the full order.

What happens during setup?

Arrange your pieces inside your nearest three rows. You can edit a saved formation or ask Henerals to fill one for you. Both players confirming ends setup early. If the setup clock expires, the system completes any missing placements so the match can proceed.

Full setup gives more preparation time. Quick setup starts from a saved complete formation and gives a shorter adjustment window. Compare the Blitz, Rapid and Classic setup times.

Can the flag move or capture?

Yes. The flag moves one square up, down, left or right like every other piece. It loses a challenge to every non-flag rank. When one flag attacks the other flag, the attacking flag wins.

Another route to victory is to reach the farthest row with your flag and survive the opponent’s next turn. Reaching the edge alone does not immediately finish the game under Henerals Standard v1.

Your first match

Start with practice and the Rapid clock if you want time to read each challenge. Select a piece to see its legal destination squares and a compact guide to what it beats or loses to. After a game, change one part of your formation and try again.