Each player has five raftsmen (pieces) whom he must bring safely across the river to the opposite side of the board - the side of the opponent. The winner is the player who first gets three of his five raftsmen safely across. Raftsmen may only walk over the floating tree trunks which are their color or neutral. Taking turns, advancing the raftsman figures and moving the trunks makes it possible to build a bridge for your own pieces while hindering your opponent or sending them over the waterfall.