Sashay

An abstract 2 player game in which each player is trying to move a "spy" piece, which he has previously marked with a hidden peg, to the opposite end of the board. The game may also be won by capturing the opponent's "spy". "Dancer" pieces including the "Spy" move like chess rooks, but capture is by surrounding a piece. Each player has in addition two "Masters of Masquerade" pieces that have some unique moves: diagonal zig-zag, single space slide, and positional exchange with adjacent friend-or-foe dancers. The game starts with a screen placed between the players' sides to allow them to place their pieces unseen. There is some deduction and ruse involved in deciding what piece to try to capture, and also potential for quick endings when one cannot defend every column from advance - but with experience the game focuses on using the "Masters" to break into formations, and also systematically eliminating the dancers.