The game. Basketball on a chess board. Your chess pieces are the players (there is no capturing a king). Bring the ball up and score on the far basket. Each game is first to 11, win by 2; tie at 11 and each side gets one last possession, then sudden death.
The court. Two gold rims score. The purple key is the paint (cut through it, never camp). The arc sits three ranks out: a shot scores 1 from inside it, 2 from behind. The four center squares are your turnover restart.
Setup. Draft your squad from the chess set across the series (name 2 all-stars who play twice), then place your five on any empty squares, with one of them on a gold basket square (your baseline rim) to be your ball handler. Then check the ball to tip off. The handler (the pulsing gold ring) starts each possession on a defined spot: a basket square (full court, choose one of two) or a center square (half court). If you leave every player off the baskets the game will not tip - it asks you to fix it, never moves a piece for you. Pass-and-play tips off at random; against JJJ you choose offense or defense first.
Every possession, three beats:
Clocks. Cross half court before the bring-up count, then beat the shot clock. A violation is a turnover, handing the defense a free point and the ball at half court.
The series. Best-of-three. Your 16 pieces spread across the three games (only the 2 all-stars play twice), so spend your talent wisely.
You play one side; JJJ plays the other. It is your call how to tip off: start on offense and take the ball up first, or start on defense and make JJJ bring it.
Offense first = you start with the ball · Defense first = JJJ does
