Step and jump your ten marbles over a star-shaped board and fill the opposite point before your opponent does.
Star Halma is a two-player race of marbles across a 121-hole board shaped like a six-pointed star. You and one opponent each start with ten marbles tucked into opposite points of the star. The aim is simple to say and tricky to do well: get all ten into the facing point sooner than the other side.
No marble is ever removed. Every jump just carries a marble farther, so the game is all about speed and clever routes.
Rules in brief
Player 1 starts, and each turn you move a single marble. You have two choices. You can step into any of the six neighboring holes if it is empty. Or you can jump an adjacent marble and land in the empty hole right behind it, keeping a straight line.
Jumps can be strung together. After landing, if another marble sits beside you with an empty hole behind it, you may jump again in any direction, and you can stop after any jump. A turn is either one step or a chain of jumps, never both. You can jump your own marbles or your rival’s, and the four unused points of the star are open to pass through.
Using the highlights
When you select a marble, the game marks each hole it could end in on this turn, including the far ends of long jump chains. You only tap the final hole, so even a five-jump move takes two taps. Before committing, select a few different marbles and compare which one can travel farthest. Keyboard players can do the same with the arrow keys and Enter.
Strategy notes
- Leave gaps between your marbles to build ladders that later marbles can jump along.
- Do not abandon a straggler at the back. One slow marble can cost many turns at the end.
- Your opponent’s marbles in the middle make fine stepping stones.
- Send your first arrivals deep into the far point so the ones behind them have room to land.
Who it suits
The rules take a minute to learn, which makes this a good pick for younger players and anyone who wants a calm board game. The Hard computer is there for players who want more of a fight, and the local mode turns one device into a table game for two. You may also know this race by other names. Sternhalma, or star Halma, is what it is called in parts of Europe, and it grew out of an older game played on a square board.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move a marble | Arrow keys and Enter to pick a marble, then the hole it should end in | Click your marble, then the highlighted hole where it should finish | Tap your marble, then the highlighted hole where it should finish |
| Start a game against the computer | — | Click "vs Computer", pick Player 1 or 2 and a level, then click "New game" | Tap "vs Computer", pick Player 1 or 2 and a level, then tap "New game" |
| Play a friend on one screen | — | Click "2 Player (local)" | Tap "2 Player (local)" |
| Take back a move | — | Click "Undo" | Tap "Undo" |
Star Halma FAQ
Is Star Halma for one or two players?
Both. You can face the computer at Easy, Medium or Hard, and choose whether you are Player 1 or Player 2. Or pick the local two-player mode and share one screen with a friend, taking turns.
Does it work on a phone or Chromebook?
Yes. It plays with a mouse, by touch or with the keyboard. On a phone you tap a marble and then tap the hole where it should end up. The board is set up for a tall screen, so hold the phone upright.
Will my game still be there if I close the page?
Yes. A game in progress is saved in your browser, so you can pick it up later on the same device. Undo lets you take back a move, and Resign ends a game you do not want to finish.
How do I win?
Be the first to fill every hole in the point straight across from your start with your own marbles. Nothing is ever captured, so the race is purely about getting all ten home faster than your opponent.
