ABALONE RULES

 

Abalone Rules and FAQ

Abalone is a two-player abstract strategy game played on a hexagonal board with black and white marbles. The goal is to push your opponent's marbles off the board. Below are the general rules and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

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Basic Rules

1. Setup:

   • Each player starts with 14 marbles. These are placed on the first two rows of their side of the hexagonal board.
   • Players alternate turns, with the black marbles moving first.

2. Objective:

   • The goal is to push 6 of your opponent's marbles off the board.

3. Movement:

   • Players can move one, two, or three marbles in a straight line or sideways.
   • Marbles move one space per turn.

4. Sumito (Pushing Opponent's Marbles):

   • You can push your opponent's marbles if:
     • You have more marbles in line than the opponent (i.e., a 2v1 or 3v2 situation).
     • You can only push marbles in a straight line.
     • You cannot push if the opponent has the same or more marbles than you in the line.
   • You can push only 1 or 2 of your opponent's marbles per turn.

5. Winning:

   • A player wins by pushing 6 of their opponent’s marbles off the board.

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FAQ

1. How many marbles can I move in one turn?

   • You can move one, two, or three marbles in one turn, either in a straight line or sideways.

2. Can I push my opponent's marbles sideways?

   • No, you can only push your opponent's marbles in a straight line.

3. Can I move into an empty space?

   • Yes, marbles can be moved into any adjacent empty space.

4. What happens if I cannot push the opponent's marble?

   • If you have fewer marbles than your opponent in a straight line, you cannot push their marbles. In this case, you can only reposition your marbles.

5. How do I win the game?

   • The game is won by pushing 6 of your opponent’s marbles off the edge of the board.

6. Can I split my marbles and move them in different directions?

   • No, all the marbles you move in a turn must move in the same direction.

7. What if both players push 6 marbles off at the same time?

   • This situation is extremely rare, but if it happens, the game can either be considered a draw or can be replayed based on the players' agreement.

8. Is there a limit to the number of marbles I can push?

   • Yes, you can only push up to 2 marbles at a time, and you must always have more marbles in the line than your opponent.

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These are the general rules and answers to some common questions about Abalone. The game is easy to learn but offers deep strategic gameplay!