Turkmens have for centuries preserved their affection for traditional games that are closely tied to their way of life, unique customs and traditions and deeply rooted cultural practices. The ancient origins of Turkmen games are evidenced by legends and historical tales, the plots of which have often found their way into folklore narratives and literary works across different centuries.
As in many other forms of folklore, traditional games reflect people’s perceptions of nature, the universe and their own physical and cognitive capacities. While outdoor folk games demonstrated the agility, courage and endurance of earlier generations, intellectual games cultivated such qualities as strategic thinking, the ability to assess risks, analyse one’s surroundings and make quick decisions.
Anthropologists and historians identify four main reasons that prompted ancient peoples to shift from purely physical activity to intellectual forms of competition. Survival required more than speed and physical strength: people needed to anticipate the behaviour of prey, plan their supplies and allocate resources wisely. For this reason, the earliest intellectual games often served as mental models of real life challenges and threats. They also provided a means for community members to determine who was intellectually and strategically stronger. In many cases, the earliest games were not merely forms of entertainment in the modern sense, but they carried a sacred and ritual significance.
The Turkmen national game Duzzum (also known as Dyzym or Duzum) belongs to the ancient family of logical games that later came to be known as board games. Its mechanics bear a strong resemblance to ancient Roman and medieval games of the Merels type. Archaeologists have discovered similar rock carved game boards in many parts of the world, some of them dating back more than two or three thousand years.
It is impossible to determine the exact date of Duzzum origin because it was passed down from generation to generation for centuries as part of the oral folk tradition and nomadic way of life. Historical sources have also rarely preserved the names of individual players from earlier centuries. Nevertheless, it is known that the game was enjoyed by Turkmen scholars and elders (yashuly), traditional teachers and bakhshi musicians. It was played as a means of training logic, memory and strategic thinking. At the same time, the game was popular not only among the nobility but also among shepherds, as it required no expensive equipment or accessories.
The game board was traditionally drawn with a sharpened stick on the ground or on a flat stone. The playing pieces used in Duzzum (known in Turkmen as daslar, meaning “stones”) were traditionally made from simple natural materials of contrasting colours. In the authentic Turkmen version of the game, players used coloured pebbles, animal bones or small pieces of wood as markers. As handicrafts developed over time, small woven carpets featuring a special pattern came into use as portable game boards. The playing pieces took the form of small carpet-woven balls or tightly knotted wool markers in contrasting colours (black and white).
Today, Duzzum, like many other traditional games, has been given a new life in Turkmenistan, having gained official recognition as an intellectual sport. This development reflects the considerable attention devoted in the country to preserving and promoting folk traditions, indigenous customs and cultural practices that form an integral part of the Turkmen people’s cultural heritage. The game is actively supported and promoted by the nation’s sports authorities, and regular tournaments for both children and adults are held across the country.
In the capital city, Duzzum is taught and practiced at the Ashgabat Specialized Chess and Checkers School, the country’s principal centre for city championships, open tournaments for children and teenagers and training sessions. Nowadays, children from the age of six are admitted to the programme. The school offers three specialized groups: a beginners’ group, a competitive group for ranked players and a recreational group for enthusiasts of different ages.
The game is also actively studied in educational institutions across the country. Duzzum clubs operate in many universities, as well as several secondary and specialized schools. The country’s strongest student Duzzum team is based at the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, where future coaches are trained and open Duzzum championships are regularly held.
Despite the passage of centuries, the rules of Duzzum have remained largely unchanged. The playing board consists of three nested squares connected by eight horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, creating a total of twenty four intersection points. While several variations of the rules exist, the traditional Turkmen version assigns each of the two players eight contrasting pieces, known as duzs. Today, official competitions use standard wooden or plastic checkers style pieces. The objective of the game is to remove an opponent’s pieces from the board by arranging one’s own pieces in rows of three. At the beginning of the game, when the board is empty, players take turns placing one piece at a time on any vacant intersection. If, during this phase, a player forms a row of three pieces along a line – a combination known as duzzum – he or she is entitled to remove one of the opponent’s pieces from the board. Once all the pieces have been placed, the movement phase begins. Players take turns moving one of their pieces to an adjacent vacant point along the lines of the grid. Each time a player moves a piece and forms a new row of three, the player exclaims “Duzzum!” and removes one of the opponent’s pieces. The game ends in victory when the opponent is reduced to only two remaining pieces or when all the opponent’s pieces are blocked and no legal move can be made.
What is the secret behind the enduring popularity of Duzzum among both children and adults? We put this question to Yazbike Ovezova, a coach and instructor at the Ashgabat Specialized Chess and Checkers School, who has more than a decade of experience coaching Duzzum:
“Just as it did centuries ago, Duzzum remains an excellent exercise for the mind. The game develops strategic planning skills in a comprehensive way, encouraging players to think several moves ahead and build multi step combinations to capture their opponent’s pieces. It also requires players to assess how the position on the board will change after each move, thereby developing spatial awareness and strategic judgement. Players must constantly keep track of the current arrangement of pieces, anticipate their opponent’s actions and remember previous moves, all of which helps strengthen memory. The dynamic nature of the game, which demands complete concentration, also contributes to improved focus and attention. In addition, gameplay involves numerous mathematical calculations and logical assessments.
The game remains highly relevant today because it helps develop children’s intellectual abilities, strengthens strategic thinking and logical reasoning, fosters an interest in mathematics and science, encourages ingenuity and supports academic success. Equally important is the fact that Duzzum provides an alternative to time spent on gadgets and screens. The game is often cultivated within the family, with parents passing its rules on to their children, thereby strengthening family bonds. At the same time, it helps young people develop important communication skills and learn how to deal with both victory and defeat.
Traditional folk gaming traditions represent an important step in helping children discover the culture and aesthetic values of their own people. Regardless of the age of the players, Duzzum combines both educational and recreational elements. It contributes to the preservation of historical memory, fosters appreciation for national traditions and plays an important role in the development of a balanced and fully developed personality.
We take part in national championships and demonstrate the game at traditional celebrations and international competitions featuring ethnic sports. In 2024, our school team participated in the World Nomad Games held in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Undoubtedly, traditional national games continue to evolve, acquiring new forms and new meaning. What remains important, however, is the continuity they preserve and a connection to their roots, through which progress is achieved in its most positive and meaningful sense.