History of Ugolki (Corners)
Origin
Ugolki, known as "Corners" in English, is a traditional strategy board game that became widely popular in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The game emerged as a folk variant of Halma, simplified to be played on a standard 8×8 chessboard with common game pieces or coins.
Simplified Halma
While Halma uses a 16×16 board with 19 pieces per player, Ugolki distills the concept to an 8×8 board with 6–9 pieces. The smaller board makes games shorter and more tactical. Originally only orthogonal movement was used, making each move more consequential.
Playground Classic
Ugolki became a staple of schoolyard and courtyard gaming in Russia, Ukraine, and other post-Soviet countries. Its appeal lay in its simplicity: you only needed a chess or checkers board and a few pieces. The game was often played during school breaks and in parks.
Ugolki Today
Today Ugolki continues to be played casually across Eastern Europe. Digital versions have introduced the game to a wider audience. ChiCheckers offers Ugolki with customizable options: diagonal movement, various board sizes, obstacles, and online multiplayer.