On Guard

On Guard is a 1974 uncredited game, published at Orda Industries.

The game is played on 7x7 board, and each player has 24 stones:

this is not the setup, the board starts empty

There is a setup phase where player drops their stones on empty positions, in alternate turns. The board center should start empty.

The official rules:

 

OBJECT OF GAME 

Game can be won in either of the following ways:

• Capturing all of opponent’s OFFICERS, or 
• Maneuvering so that opponent cannot make a move.

PLAY OF GAME

A. How Playing Pieces are Moved:

Individual playing pieces can be moved vertically or horizontally. Diagonal moves are not permitted.
A move consists of making an OFFICER (described below) or moving one playing piece, either a GUARD or an OFFICER, to a vacant space. NOTE: Only one OFFICER can be made per turn.

1. OFFICERS – OFFICERS consist of two GUARDS, one placed on top of the other. Only one OFFICER can be made in any one turn. OFFICERS can move any number of spaces, but all intervening spaces must be open. OFFICERS can jump over other OFFICERS as well as making 90-degree turns. But, OFFICERS cannot jump over GUARDS. When opponent’s OFFICER has been “jumped”, it is removed from the playing board.
2. GUARDS – GUARDS can move only one space at any time into any open space. GUARDS cannot jump.

B. Order of Play:

1. Both players randomly place all 48 playing pieces on raised circles of playing board — leaving center circle blank.
2. Both players must create an OFFICER on their first turn of play. NOTE: At least one OFFICER must be on the playing surface at all times or game is ended.
3. After first creating OFFICERS, play alternates. Players use OFFICERS to capture as many of opponent’s OFFICERS as possible. GUARDS are maneuvered to block opponent’s OFFICERS.
4. Play continues with each player moving in turn — placing his GUARDS and OFFICERS so as to accomplish one of the two methods of victory.
5. Game is won when:
• a. One player captures all of his opponent’s OFFICERS, or
• b. One player maneuvers his pieces so that his opponent cannot move any of his remaining pieces.

I assume that moves and captures are only in orthogonal directions (it would be very hard to stalemate, otherwise). The game is near Checkers, where promotions are easier to do, but the Officers are not as powerful as in standard Checkers. The setup phase is too long for modern online play, and it should be replaced with some standard position.