# Jetan, or Martian Chess explained — The Chessmen of Mars

> Chapter companion for The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

This chapter provides the complete rules of Jetan, the Martian chess-like game, as dictated by John Carter. It describes the board, the pieces with their moves and values, the objective, and the gambling customs associated with the game.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Game of Life and Death

Jetan is a strategic battle game where pieces represent warriors and leaders, and the stakes include life and death in the context of Martian culture.

## Character check-ins

### John Carter

Source of the rules of Jetan as recorded in the chapter.

## Key lines

> The game is won when any piece is placed on same square with opponent’s Princess, or a Chief takes a Chief.

Victory in Jetan occurs by capturing the opponent's Princess with any piece or by having a Chief capture the opposing Chief.

_Clarifies the win conditions of the game._

> The Princess may not move onto a threatened square, nor may she take an opposing piece. She is entitled to one ten-space move at any time during the game. This move is called “the escape.”

The Princess piece cannot move into danger or capture, but she has a special one-time ability to move ten spaces in any direction, known as 'the escape.'

_Describes the unique rules for the Princess piece._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/jetan-or-martian-chess
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters