Kolowis Awithlaknannai (also known as fighting serpents) is a two-player strategy board game from the Zuni Native American Indians. It was described by Stewart Culin in his book Games of the North American Indians (1907), and may have been the first publication of the game. It was later described in R.C. Bell's book Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations (1969). R.C. Bell coined the term fighting serpents, but provides no explanation for it. Perhaps the black and white pieces are laid out in the beginning of the game in such a way that it looks like two serpents fighting.
The game is a relative of draughts and alquerque. Captures are done by jumping over pieces. The Spanish are thought to have brought the game of alquerque to America several centuries ago, and the game's development may have been influenced; however, there is no conclusive proof. Furthermore, the board is neither a square board or an alquerque board. The board's length far exceeds its width. To say the least, fighting serpents is a unique variant. The game is actually more related to alquerque than draughts, because pieces can move in any direction from the start of the game, and there is no back row or promotion to king. Moreover, the board is made up of linear patterns instead of squares.
The goal of the game is to eliminate the other player's pieces. If that's not possible, then the player with the most pieces left in the game is the winner. Another way to win is to block the other player's movements. A player cannot pass their turn.
The board consist of three parallel horizontal lines (also called rows) joined together by several leaning (left and right) diagonal lines. A curve line also connects the ends of the board. There are 16 intersection points on the top and bottom row. There are 17 intersection points in the middle row. The intersection points are where the pieces can be played at.
Each player has 23 pieces. One plays the black pieces, and the other plays the white pieces. However, any two colors or distinguishable objects are appropriate.
. Robert Charles Bell . The Boardgame Book . Exeter Books . 1983 . Fighting Serpents . 38–39 . 0-671-06030-9.