Make a Chinese checkers game using LEGO®
Build a LEGO Chinese checkers board and marbles using bricks and round pieces, then play with friends while exploring strategy, planning, and symmetry.
Step-by-step guide to make a Chinese checkers game using LEGO
Step 1
Clear a flat table and place your LEGO baseplate in the center.
Step 2
Use pencil and paper to draw a six-pointed star of evenly spaced dots to plan where the marbles will sit.
Step 3
Put 1x1 round plates or round tiles on the baseplate studs to mark each dot from your drawing forming the star grid.
Step 4
Choose six different colors of bricks or plates to be the player sets.
Step 5
Build a triangular nest at each star point with plates and bricks so each nest can hold ten marbles.
Step 6
Keep the center of the star clear and leave straight rows of empty studs between nests so marbles can move and jump.
Step 7
Make marbles by stacking round plates or using dome round pieces and create ten marbles for each color.
Step 8
Place each color's ten marbles into that color's triangular starting nest.
Step 9
Decide how many players will play and assign each player a color.
Step 10
Explain the rules to the players: a marble can move one stud to an adjacent empty space or jump over one marble into an empty stud and multiple jumps in one turn are allowed.
Step 11
Start a game and try to move all your marbles into the opposite triangle to win.
Step 12
Play another round and practice planning moves ahead and using symmetrical moves to reach the opposite side faster.
Step 13
Share a photo or description of your LEGO Chinese checkers board and the strategy you tried on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a LEGO baseplate or 1x1 round plates if we don't have them?
If you don't have a LEGO baseplate use sturdy cardboard or a baking sheet to draw your six-pointed star and replace 1x1 round plates with buttons, coins, or paper circles glued or taped to mark each dot.
What should we do if our triangular nests won't hold ten marbles or marbles keep falling out?
If a triangular nest can't hold ten marbles, widen the nest by adding another row of plates and bricks as in the build step and test with your stacked round plates or dome pieces, adding taller plate walls to keep marbles from falling out.
How can we adapt the LEGO Chinese checkers activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children simplify by making each triangular nest hold 3–5 large dome round pieces and drawing a smaller star, while older kids can use all ten marbles per color, keep the full stud grid, and add timed turns or multi-jump strategy challenges.
How can we personalize or make the game more challenging after building the board?
Personalize the baseplate by decorating and labeling each triangular nest with stickered bricks, or increase difficulty by adding blocked studs with single plates and creating house rules like scoring for jumps to change strategy.
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Facts about LEGO construction and board game design for kids
♟️ In Chinese checkers you can move one step or hop over pieces — chaining many hops in one turn is how players make big leaps across the board.
⚪ People have played with marbles for thousands of years; archaeologists have found marble-like toys in ancient Egyptian tombs.
🔁 Building a symmetrical board and planning mirrored moves helps players visualize routes and practice strategic thinking.
🟢 Chinese checkers is actually a variation of the older game Halma but uses a six-pointed star board for fast, hop-filled play.
🧱 The interlocking LEGO brick design was patented in 1958 — bricks made today still connect with those first designs!
How do I build a LEGO® Chinese checkers board and marbles?
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