How to Play Parade

Objective of the Game

In Parade, a fast-paced tactics game for 2 players, the goal is to form a Parade—four of your stones in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). Unlike traditional four-in-a-row games, stones are not placed but moved forward toward your opponent's side to create the alignment.

Preparation (Setup)

1. Place the 4x10 gridded board between both players, with each facing a row of four fields.
2. Players place their 12 semiprecious stones on marked starting positions:
- One player uses fields marked with 'x', the other with '·'.
- Each places 3 stones in the row closest to them and 3 stones on the sixth row.
3. Agree on the starting player.

Game Flow

Players take turns moving one of their stones one step toward the opponent's side. Moves must be:
- Orthogonal or diagonal (forward only).
- No sideways or backward movement allowed.
- Occupied fields cannot be entered.

Actions and How to Play

On your turn:
1. Choose one of your stones.
2. Move it one step forward (orthogonally or diagonally).
3. You cannot move onto a field already occupied by another stone.
4. The game continues until a player forms a Parade (four-in-a-row).

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends immediately when a player forms a Parade (four stones in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). That player wins the game. There is no additional scoring—victory is determined solely by achieving the Parade first.

Tips to Win

1. Control the center: Stones moved toward the center have more flexibility to form multiple Parade lines.
2. Block opponents: Anticipate your opponent's potential Parades and position stones to disrupt their alignment.
3. Plan diagonals: Diagonal Parades are harder to block—prioritize creating or defending them.

Note: The context also mentions a separate game called SOFORT, but its rules are unrelated to Parade. Consult the manual for details about that section.