Shah-tezh was a two-player abstract strategy game. Each player started with an equal set of pieces. These pieces were moved on a game board, known as a demesne, following specific rules for each piece type. The goal of the game was to create an inescapable attack on the opponent's most crucial piece, called the Imperator, thereby winning the match. Throughout its existence, it gave rise to several variations, such as dejarik, chess, and Moebius.
Shah-tezh was played on a square game board called a demesne, which was patterned with smaller black and white squares. At the start of the game, each player received an identical set of at least nine different types of pieces. These included pieces such as the Beast, the Counselor, the Craft, the Disciple, the Dowager, the Imperator, the Knight, the Outcast, and the Vizier. Each piece type had a unique visual design. For example, the Imperator was represented by a tall, hunched figure wearing a hooded robe. The Knight was depicted as a large, cloaked figure wielding a long weapon, and the Vizier was represented by a slender figure wearing a tall, pillar-shaped hat. The sets of pieces were differentiated by color: one player had black pieces with white accents, and the other had white pieces with black accents.
The aim of Shah-tezh was to launch an unavoidable and undefendable attack on the opposing Imperator, while simultaneously safeguarding one's own. Each piece on the demesne had a distinct role and corresponding movement abilities. For instance, the Vizier could only move diagonally across the demesne, but it could move any number of spaces. Conversely, the Knight was limited to moving only two steps at a time, but it could move in any direction.
The game of Shah-tezh originated long before 19 BBY. As time passed, it led to the development of numerous variations, including dejarik, chess, and Moebius. Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith and Galactic Emperor, enjoyed playing Shah-tezh, and he employed it as a significant political metaphor when instructing Gallius Rax about his intended role.