DAMATH RULES

Basically the rules in playing the Filipino checkerboard game called dama will be used with
some modifications in integrating Mathematics and Science as follows:

After the starting positions of the chips have been set, the first player is determined by drawing
lots. The first player will occupy the side of the DAMATH board where (0, 0) is located.
A chip is allowed to move diagonally forward only to an adjoining vacant square.
A chip has to take the opponents chip diagonally forward or backward, thus, pass is not
allowed. Mathematical operations (+, -, x, ) will be used depending on the vacant squares
operation symbol where the Taker chip lands by jumping over the Taken chip (the latter chip
has to be removed from the board after performing the indicated mathematical operation and
recording the same in the scoresheet).
A chip has to take the opponents chip diagonally forward or backward, thus, pass is not
allowed.

In taking a chip or more than one chip, the Taker chip is always the addend, minuend,
multiplicand, or dividend as the case may be.
In taking a chip or more than one chip, the Dama Rules on dama, mayor dalawa or tatlo,
mayor tatlo over dalawa, mayor dama, and mayor dalawa or tatlo over dama prevail.
When two dama chips will take same number of chips, its up for the player to decide which to
move.
When two dama chips will take same number of chips, its up for the player to decide which to
move.
A chip is declared as dama upon reaching terminally on the following designated squares.
Situations where a chip is not declared as dama
A dama chip is allowed to move to any unoccupied square along its diagonal path. It can take a
chip or more than one chip.
Moreover, a damas score is doubled in taking a chip or chips.
Damas score is quadrupled if it takes the opponents dama chip.
Similarly, an ordinary chips score is doubled if it takes a dama chip.

OTHER RULES
Use of calculator is allowed.
A move [e.g. 25 (6, 3)] is good only at the most for one (1)
minute including its corresponding entries in the scoresheet; while
the games duration is twenty (20) minutes.
It will be the responsibility of the arbiter to remind the player to
make a move and write entries in the scoresheet. This will be done
10 seconds before the 1-minute time frame.
If in case a player did not finish writing the entries in the
scoresheet after 1 minute, the time will be stopped by the arbiter.

This is to give the player time to finish writing in the scoresheet.

The extra time is exclusive of the twenty-minute game duration.
A player may consume the whole minute in taking chip/s and
writing the entries in the scoresheet.
A player is required to take chip/s when there is still time left
(remaining second/s of the 20-minute game duration).
The game ends when any of the following situations occur:
If no show of one player is declared after ten minutes.
Repetitive moves of any or both players.
A player resigns or refuses to move.
A players chip is cornered.
A player has no more chip to move.
The 20-minute game duration ended.
The remaining chips have to be added to the respective players
total scores.
DAMA chips corresponding value is doubled.
The player with the greater total score is declared winner for which
he/she is entitled to one (1) point in the tally sheet of contestants or
one-half (0.5) point in case of a draw.
In case two or more players have the same number of winnings,
their previous games will be considered. Whoever won in these
games prevails. If a winner cannot be determined from these
games, a 10-minute rematch shall be done. Players are not allowed
to resign in the rematch. Point System (Adding the Scores in each
Game/Rematch) shall be followed if no player emerges as winner
after the rematch.
Only one scoresheet is allowed to be accomplished alternately by
the two players whereby incorrect entries shall be their
responsibility. In case of incorrect entries in the scoresheet, a
player has to immediately call the attention of the competition
facilitator by raising ones hand, that is, after stopping the time. As
determined by the said facilitator, the appropriate corrections will
be done by the erring player inasmuch as the formers decision is
final and unappealable.
The time spent in correcting the entries is exclusive of the 20minute game duration.
Scoresheets will be reviewed by a panel of reviewers. Corrections
will be done to the wrong entries which were not checked during
the game.
With the end view of making this innovative activity globally
competitive, effective S.Y. 1999 2000 the Chess Swiss System will
be adopted in the manner of conducting in the highest tradition the
national level of DAMATH competition. This policy is in line also

with this Departments advocacy of the culture of excellence in

Mathematics and Science.

SCI-DAMA

DAMATH RULES
1. Games for Damath Competitions
Grades I II . . . . . . . . . Counting Damaths

Grades III-IV. . . . . . . . Whole Damaths

Grades V-VI. . . . . . . . . Fraction Damaths
2. Set the starting positions of the chips as follows:
a) Counting Damaths
10
7
2
5
1
4 11
8
12
9
6
3

b) Whole Damaths
c) Fraction Damaths
9
6
1
4
10/10 7/10 2/10 5/10
0
3
10
7
1/10 4/10 11/10 8/10
11
8
5
2
2/10
9/10 6/10 3/10

3. Toss a coin to decide who moves first.

4. The two players alternately take turn in moving a piece (pass is not allowed).
5. Touch move shall be observed in the game. A player who touches a chip is required to move that chip
unless it is illegal to do so.
6. After making a move, a player shall record his move in one score sheet. Only one score sheet will be used
by the players in a game. In case of incorrect entries in the score sheet, a player has to immediately call the
attention of the arbiter by raising ones hand, that is, after stopping the time. The erring player will do the
appropriate corrections.
7. Each player is only allowed one minute to move including the recording of the move and score in the score
sheet. In as much as taking a chip is mandatory, then the one-minute per move does not apply in the situation.
8. A warning is given to a player by the arbiter if no move is made after one minute, and consequently, he is
forced to move a chip.
9. Continuous violation of rule number 8 will disqualify the player even if he is leading in the score sheet and
at the time of violation. Fourth (4th ) disqualification means disqualification.
10. All moves shall be in the forward direction except in taking a chip (forward or backward) or if a chip is
dama.
11. A chip is declared dama if it reaches and stops terminally on the following designated squares:
For red chips: (0,7), (2,7), (4,7), (6,7)
For blue chips: (1,0), (3,0), (5,0), (7,0)
12. Once a chip is declared dama it could slide diagonally forward or backward in any vacant square
provided no opposing piece blocks it. It could take a piece or pieces and doubles the score, and quadrupled if
it takes the opponents dama chip. Similarly, an ordinary chips score doubled if it takes a dama chip.
13. A player can take one chip or more than one chip with the required option to take the greater number of
chips.
14. Between a dama taking a chip and a chip taking another chip, the former is obliged. Between a dama
taking a chip and a dama eating two (2) or more chips, the later prevails.
15. Dama chip should be identified by encircling the chip in the score sheet.

16. The game ends if:

a) no show of one player is declared after 10 minutes
b) a player has no more move
c) a player has no more chip
d) the moves are repetitive (Five repetitive moves of any or both players)
e) 20-minute game duration had elapsed.

17. The remaining chip(s) shall be added to the total score of the respective players. If the remaining chip is a
dama, its value is doubled.
18. The player with the greater accumulated total score wins the game.
19. Players are allowed to use calculator.
20. Only players are allowed to raise questions during the game through the arbiter and should be solved
immediately.
21. No questions shall be entertained after the game.
22. Arbiters decision is final.
References:
DECS Memo. No. 348,s.1996 (Enclosure No. 1)
DECS Memo. No. 361, s. 2001(Enclosure A)
Damath Games for Secondary
a) Integer Damaths
-9
6
0
-3
-11
8

-1
10

4
-7

-5

b) Rational Damaths
-9/10
6/10
-1/10
4/10
0/10
-3/10
10/10
-7/10
-11/10
8/10
-5/10
2/10

c) Radical Damaths
-9 2
- 8
4 18 16
18
32
- 49
-25
36
64 2
-121 18 -81 32 100 2 144

32

d) Polynomial Damaths
-3x 2 y -xy 2
6x
10y
2
2
-21xy -15x
28y
36x y
2
-55x
-45y
66x y
78xy 2