Halma (from Greek: ἅλμα, romanized: hálma, meaning “leap"[1]) is a strategy board game invented in 1883 or 1884 by George Howard Monks, an American thoracic surgeon at Harvard Medical School.

The beginning (before opposing pieces come into contact) is usually a set-piece battle, with players setting up their favoured openings.

Players should also set up for the endgame (when opposing pieces have passed one another and must run for home), avoiding stragglers.

In the 8x8 version of the game, the middle-game involves three main considerations: keep your army together; make jumps as long as possible, particularly diagonally; and avoid stranded pieces.

The end-game is akin to a puzzle race with each side trying the minimum number of intricate moves to reach the final position.