nyout

nyout, ancient Korean cross-and-circle board game. The nyout board, usually made of paper, consists of 29 marks representing a cross circumscribed by a circle. The pieces, called mal, or horses, are made of wood, stone, or paper.

Players advance their pieces according to three throws of four wooden dice, called pam-nyout. These are black and white on opposing sides. The number of moves allowed depends on the number of black sides up. The object of the game is to get a predetermined number of horses around the circle and out at a specified point. The cross operates as a shortcut to be taken if a horse lands on one of four special marks.

Games similar to nyout have been played in Korea since the 3rd century ad. The contemporary version is popular as a gambling game in Korean public houses.