The Green and Red kingdoms are at war. Each side has sent their armies to lay siege on the other's kingdom. This has left only a small retinue of royal guards to defend their king. The object for the defenders (Shields) is to help move their King to one of the outer squares, in which case he has successfully escaped. In addition, the object for the attackers (Swords) is to capture the enemy King.

All pieces move like a Rook in chess, that is, any number of squares horizontally or vertically in an unobstructed straight line. When a move is made that surrounds an enemy piece on two opposite sides, the sandwiched enemy is captured and taken from the board. To capture the King, the attackers must surround the King on all four sides.

The center square is the King's throne or `Konakis`. No pieces may land on the throne except the King, though other pieces may pass over it. The King may also be captured if he is surrounded by his throne on one side and by enemies on all other sides. The throne acts like a friendly piece, so a sandwich of a friendly piece, opponent piece and throne also results in a capture.

Green begins by movings one of it's Swords. After that both sides take turns, first moving one of their defenders then moving one of their attackers.