Damath was invented in the Philippines by Jesus Huenda as a way to make math lessons more engaging for his students. It is a board game that uses arithmetic operations to teach math concepts in a strategic, game-based way. The game became popular and the first Damath tournament was held in 1980. Playing Damath helps students strengthen their math skills while having fun. It comes in different versions tailored to different grade levels and math concepts. The rules involve moving chips on the game board and capturing opponent's chips to earn points based on the arithmetic operations at those board locations.

2. Damath was invented by Jesus
Huenda, a teacher in the province of
Sorsogon, Philippines, who had
encountered problems in teaching
math using traditional teaching
methods. Inspired in part by an
investigatory project called “Dama de
Numero” submitted by a student
(Emilio Hina Jr.) in 1975, Huenda
overhauled the game and introduced it
to his class, who enjoyed playing.
Damath became popular and in 1980,
the first Damath tournament was held
in Sorsogon.

3. Benefits of Damath
Aside from teaching students how to play strategically,
Damath also helps students to further develop and strengthen their
math operational skills (operations involving whole numbers, integers,
fractions, decimals, etc.).
Students who used to dislike math are actually learning
how to use math when they play Damath and in the process learn the
subject.

4. Damath Categories
1 4 11 8
12 9 6
3
10 7 -2 5
10
7
2
5
1
4
11
8
12
9
6
3
Damath the
Counting Numbers
(for Grades 1 - 3)

5. Damath Categories
1
10
4
10
11
10
8
10
12
10
9
10
6
10
3
10
10
10
7
10
2
10
5
10
10
10
7
10
2
10
5
10
1
10
4
10
11
10
8
10
12
10
9
10
6
10
3
10
Damath the
Fractions
(for Grades 4 and 5)

6. Damath Categories
Damath the
Integers
(for Grade 6, JHS, and SHS)
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9 6 -1 4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2

7. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
1. Starting the Game
Position the chips in the damath
board. The positioning of the chips
depends on the Damath variant
you’re playing. For instance, if
you’re playing Damath the Integers,
the standard positioning is shown
on the right:
Note: Toss a coin to identify which player will move first.

8. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
2. Moving the Chips
Players can only slide theirs chips
forward to an empty white square
adjacent to it. Backward slides are
not allowed unless the player
captures an opponent’s chip.
-Players take turns in moving a chip.
Passing a turn is not allowed.
-“Touch move” applies to this game.
That is, once a player touches a chip
during his/her turn, he/she is now
required to move it.
-Players have 60 seconds each turn
to move a chip.
Note: After each move, the player has to record his/her
move in a score sheet.

9. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
3. Capturing an Opponents Chip
and Scoring
To capture an opponents chip, the
taker chip must “jump” over its
opponent’s chip diagonally and use
the operation symbol it lands on.
Capturing a chip can be made
diagonally forward or backward.
-Once a player takes an opponent’s
chip, he/she obtains a score.
-The score is calculated using the
mathematical operation indicated
in the white square where the
taker chip lands.

10. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
BLUE RED
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9 6 -1 4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2

11. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
BLUE RED
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9 6 -1 4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
-9 (5,4) NS

12. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
BLUE RED
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9
6
-1 4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
6 (4,3) NS
-9 (5,4) NS

13. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
BLUE RED
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9
6
-1 4
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
6 (4,3) NS
-9 (5,4) NS
-9
-9 X 6 -54 -54

14. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
RED BLUE
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
10
-7
-11 8 -5
2
4
0
-3
10
-11
8
-5
2
In taking more than one chip, the taker chip shall remain as
the initial addend, minuend, multiplicand, or dividend as
the case maybe.

15. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
RED BLUE
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
10
-11 8 -5
2
4
0
-3
10
-11
8
-5
2
-7 X -3 21
In taking more than one chip, the taker chip shall remain as
the initial addend, minuend, multiplicand, or dividend as
the case maybe.
-7
21

16. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
RED BLUE
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
10
-11 8 -5
2
4
0
10
-11
8
-5
2
-7 X -3 21
In taking more than one chip, the taker chip shall remain as
the initial addend, minuend, multiplicand, or dividend as
the case maybe.
-7 ÷ 10 -1
-7
21
20

17. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
DAMATH SCORE SHEET
RED BLUE
Name: Player 1 Name: Player 2
School: JRLMHS School: JRLMHS
Move Score Total Move Score Total
Player’s Signature: Player’s Signature:
Teacher’s Signature: Teacher’s Signature:
W( ) L( ) W( ) L( )
10
-11 8 -5
2
4
0
-11
8
-5
2
-7 X -3 21
In taking more than one chip, the taker chip shall remain as
the initial addend, minuend, multiplicand, or dividend as
the case maybe.
-7 ÷ 10 -1
-7
-7 - 4 -11
21
20
9

18. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
4. Earning the Dama Chip
The dama chip is an ‘upgraded’ chip
that gives a player an advantage by
moving through multiple squares.
A dama chip can slide diagonally
forward or backward in any
unoccupied square as long as no
opponent’s chip blocks its path.
-A chip is declared “dama” if it
reaches the end row of the
opponent and stopped there.
-A chip is not declared “dama” even
if it reaches the end row of the
opponent if it just ‘passes’ in one
of its squares in case of multiple
taken chips.

19. HOW TO PLAY DAMATH?
5. Concluding the Game
The game ends if:
- The 20-minute game period
lapsed.
- The moves are repetitive. (This
usually happens when a player has
only one chip left.)
- An opponents chip is trapped or
cornered.
-The remaining chip or chips of the
players are to be added to their
respective scores. If the remaining
chip is ‘dama’, then its score will be
doubled.
-The player with the greater
accumulated total score wins the
game.
Note: In case of a tie, a 10-minute rematch follows
thereafter until the winner is declared.

20. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
1. A chip is moved diagonally in an empty white
square adjacent to it.
2. Moving a chip backward is allowed when
taking an opponent’s chip
3. Passing a turn is not allowed.
4. Touch move applies. A player who touches a
chip during his/her turn is required to move it
unless it is not possible to do so.
5. Only one score sheet will be used by the 2
players.
6. When a “dama” takes an opponent’s chip, its
score is doubled.
7. When a regular chip takes a “dama” chip, its
score is also doubled.
8. When a “dama” chip takes the opponent’s
“dama” chip, its score is quadrupled.

21. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
9. Each player is allotted one minute per move
including the recording of the “move” and the
corresponding score in the score sheet.
10. In as much as taking a chip/s is mandatory,
then the one minute per move does not apply
on this situation.

22. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9
6
-1
4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2

23. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9 -1
4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
6

24. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9 -1
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
4
6

25. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-9
6
-1
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
4

26. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
6
-1
4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2

27. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-1
4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
6

28. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-1
4
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
6

29. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-1
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
4
6

30. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-1
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
4 6

31. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
0 -3 10 -7
-11 8 -5
2
-1
-9
6
-1
4
0
-3
10
-7
-11
8
-5
2
4
6

32. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
“mayor dama”
8 takes -11 vs -3(dama) takes 2
-3
8
2
-11

33. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
“mayor dama”
8 takes -11 vs -3(dama) takes 2
-3
2
-11
8

34. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
“mayor dama”
8 takes -11 vs -3(dama) takes 2
2
-11
8
-3

35. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
“mayor dama”
8 takes -11 vs -3(dama) takes 2
“mayor dalawa” over “mayor dama”
-3(dama) takes 2 vs 8 takes -11 and 2
-3
8
2
-11

36. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
“mayor dama”
8 takes -11 vs -3(dama) takes 2
“mayor dalawa” over “mayor dama”
-3(dama) takes 2 vs 8 takes -11 and 2
8
2
-11
-3

37. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
“mayor dama”
8 takes -11 vs -3(dama) takes 2
“mayor dalawa” over “mayor dama”
-3(dama) takes 2 vs 8 takes -11 and 2
2
-11
-3
8

38. RULES IN PLAYING DAMATH
11. In taking a chip/s, the following policy will
prevail:
“mayor dalawa”
6 takes -1 vs 4 takes 6 and -1
“mayor tatlo”
6 takes -1 and 4 vs 4 takes 6, -1, and 4
“mayor dama”
8 takes -11 vs -3(dama) takes 2
“mayor dalawa” over “mayor dama”
-3(dama) takes 2 vs 8 takes -11 and 2
2
-11
-3
8

39. TIPS AND TRICKS IN WINNING DAMATH
1. Always aim to capture a chip where
you will get a good score.
2. If you have to “sacrifice” or lose a
chip, minimize your opponents’ score
by giving him a bad score.
3. Strategize your moves to make your
opponent take your chip/s where
he/she will get a bad score.
4. Damath game uses the four
fundamental operations. It is of great
advantage to master the positions of
the operations on the damath board.

40. Prepared by:
MELITA D. ALMUETE
SIMON NIEL C. CUSTODIO