The game is played on a board of 169 intersections arranged in 

13 rows and 13 columns

. Each player uses a different type of piece: one uses shells and the other uses snails.

The objective is to 

form a straight line of exactly 5

 of your pieces or to 

capture five pairs

 of your opponent’s pieces.

The player using snails 

starts the game

 with a piece placed automatically in the center of the board. Players alternate turns. Each move consists of placing one piece on an empty intersection of the board. Once placed, pieces cannot be moved. To balance the first player’s advantage, their second move must be made at least three intersections away from the center.

If a player 

surrounds two consecutive opponent pieces

 on both sides with their own pieces as a result of a move, that 

pair is removed

 from the board. The first player to form a line of 5 pieces or capture five pairs wins.