Dejarik
C-3PO is shown observing R2-D2 and Chewbacca in a game of dejarik on the Millennium Falcon.
Dejarik proved to be a very enduring pastime, outlasting almost all other games throughout the galaxy. Initially, it was a game played by the Jedi, but its popularity grew so much that its origins were eventually forgotten by many.
Description
The game of Dejarik was played on a hologame table. This table featured a hologram generator contained within a cylindrical base, with a black and white checkerboard pattern adorning its top. When the table was activated, holomonsters would be projected onto the board. These playing pieces were full-color, three-dimensional holograms, ranging in size from 5 to 30 cm in height. The pieces took the form of various creatures, both real and mythical, from across the galaxy. These included the Mantellian Savrip, Grimtaash, the Molator, Ghhhk, Houjix, Ng'ok, Kintan strider, K'lor'slug, and the M'onnok. When a player moved these pieces, they would animate as if they were actual members of their species. If the pieces remained untouched for a period of time, or if both players abandoned the game, the pieces would begin to act bored.
The Galactic Core Interzonals were among the most important dejarik tournaments.
One well-known tactic was the kintan strider death gambit. Another involved the fork and the K'lor'slug sacrifice. The fork involved moving a holomonster to threaten at least two of the opponent's pieces. The k'lor'slug sacrifice involved destroying a piece by sacrificing a k'lor'slug. In the case of the fork, the opponent was guaranteed to lose a piece, regardless of their action. Leaving oneself vulnerable to a fork was considered a mistake. The term "fork" became a general expression for facing an impossible choice: "We are well and truly forked."
A dejarik table was installed in the lounge of the Millennium Falcon, at Chewbacca's insistence. This table was also the location of preliminary peace talks between Gilad Pellaeon of the Imperial Remnant and Leia Organa Solo of the New Republic.
During the Yuuzhan Vong's invasion of the galaxy, Warmaster Tsavong Lah developed an affinity for the game. He then instructed his shapers to create a version of the game using actual, living creatures as pieces.
The frog-like newsmonger Sti Groon used the term "Vrax" when referring to dejarik, as that was its name on Dandrian, within the Dandrian system.
Behind the scenes
The game made its debut in the A New Hope novelization, where it was described but not identified by name. Similarly, it was shown, but unnamed, in the corresponding film. Initially, it was called Space Chess, in the instruction manual included with Kenner Products's 1979 Millennium Falcon toy. It wasn't until two decades later that it received the name "dejarik".