Game Objective: The Battle of the Hive!

Welcome to the world of Hive, an abstract game where strategy reigns supreme! Your objective is simple, yet challenging: completely surround your opponent's Queen Bee. The color of the surrounding pieces doesn't matter, only the total encirclement counts! But be careful, while you try to trap the enemy Bee, your opponent will be doing the same to yours. The first player to seal the fate of the opposing Bee is the grand winner!

Preparation (Setup): Building the Hive

Setting up Hive is as quick as a bee sting! Follow these steps and start playing in seconds:

1. Each player chooses a color (black or white).
2. Take the 11 pieces of your chosen color and place them face up in front of you.

Done! The table is set for the battle of the hive. The pieces you place on the table will form the game board itself, our beloved Hive.

The Game Turn: Building and Moving the Hive

The game begins with a randomly chosen player. From then on, the dynamic is very fluid:

Starting the Game

• The first player places one of their pieces in the center of the table.
• The opponent, in their turn, places one of their pieces on the table, ensuring it touches one of the sides of the piece already placed.
• From then on, players take turns, alternating between placing a new piece or moving a piece already in play.

Placing Pieces

• You can place a piece into play at any time.
• Important: With the exception of each player's first piece, new pieces cannot be placed in contact with an opponent's piece.
• You can win without placing all your pieces, but once in play, a piece cannot be removed.

Placing the Queen Bee

• The Queen Bee can be placed into play at any time during the first three turns.
• If on the fourth turn your Queen Bee is not yet in play, you are obligated to place it on that turn.

Moving Pieces

• Once a player's Queen Bee is in play (and not before!), that player can choose between placing another piece or moving one of the pieces already placed.
• Each insect has its unique way of moving in the Hive, and some can even move to positions in contact with opponent's pieces.
• The One Hive Rule: All pieces must always be in contact with at least one other piece. If a piece is the only link between two parts of the Hive, it cannot move. The Hive can never be divided!
• Freedom of Movement: Insects can only move by sliding. If a piece is completely surrounded and cannot slide, it cannot move. The exceptions are the Grasshopper (which jumps) and the Beetle (which climbs up and down).

The Insects and Their Special Movements

• The Queen Bee: Moves only one space at a time. Despite the limitation, it is crucial to move it at the right time to disrupt the opponent's plans.
• Beetle: Also moves one space at a time. Its special ability is to be able to climb on top of another piece in the Hive.
  • A piece under the Beetle cannot move.
  • For placement purposes, the stack assumes the color of the Beetle on top.
  • From the top, the Beetle can move from piece to piece (one space per turn) or descend to surrounded empty spaces.
  • The only way to block a Beetle on top is to place another Beetle on top of it.
  • Note: When first placed, the Beetle follows normal rules; it cannot be placed directly on top of another piece.
• Grasshopper: Does not move around, it jumps! It jumps over one or more pieces in a straight line to the next empty space. It's great for filling surrounded spaces.
• Spider: Moves three spaces at a time – no more, no less. It must be a direct path, without going back in the same move. It must always maintain contact with other pieces and cannot cross empty spaces.
• Soldier Ant: The queen of mobility! It can move to any other position in the Hive, as long as it maintains contact with the pieces along the way. It is an extremely valuable piece!

Unable to Play

If on your turn you cannot place a new piece or move a piece already in play, you pass your turn. The opponent plays again. The game continues like this until you can play or until a Queen Bee is surrounded.

End of Game and Scoring: The Final Encirclement!

The game ends as soon as one of the Queen Bees is completely surrounded by pieces, regardless of their color. The player whose Queen Bee was surrounded loses the game.

• Draw: If on the last move, the active player's Queen Bee also became completely surrounded, the game ends in a draw.
• Players can also agree to a draw if they realize they are repeating the same moves without being able to surround a Queen Bee.

Tips for Winning: Strategies of a Hive Master

So you don't get lost in your first game of Hive, here are some tips from an expert:

1. Prioritize the Queen Bee, but with Care: Remember that you need to place your Queen Bee into play within the first three turns. Think carefully about where to place it, as it will be your central point. However, don't expose it too much right away!
2. Use the Soldier Ant for Attack and Defense: The Soldier Ant is incredibly versatile. Use it to quickly surround the opponent's Queen Bee or to defend your own Queen Bee from an imminent encirclement. Its freedom of movement is a powerful weapon!
3. The One Hive Rule is Your Friend (and Enemy): Understanding that the Hive can never be divided is fundamental. Use this to your advantage to block opponent's moves, trapping their pieces. But be careful not to trap yourself or accidentally divide your own Hive!

Now you are ready to dive into the fascinating world of Hive! Good luck and may the best strategy win!