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How to Play

Hive

2-2 players 20-20 min 7.3 Board Game Geek Rating

Hive is a two-player strategic game playable on any flat surface without a traditional board. Twenty-two hex-shaped pieces with unique movement patterns create the playing field as they're placed. Players aim to completely surround their opponent's queen piece while protecting their own queen from encirclement. Victory comes from trapping the enemy queen.

Published 2001

Hive

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Determine first player
White player always takes the first turn
2
Prepare reserves
Each player keeps their bug pieces in their own reserve, ready to place during the game
3
Establish the playing area
The game uses a virtual hexagonal grid with no fixed board

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Perform one action
Choose to pass, place a bug, or move a bug on your turn
2
Pass only when forced
You may only pass if you cannot legally place or move any bug
3
Place first white bug
Put any bug except the Queen Bee in any cell
4
Place first black bug
Put any bug except the Queen Bee in any cell adjacent to white's first bug
5
Place subsequent bugs
The new bug must go in an empty cell adjacent to the hive and not adjacent to any opponent's bugs
6
Place Queen Bee by fourth turn
Your Queen Bee must be placed no later than your fourth turn
7
Ensure Queen is placed
You may only move bugs after your Queen Bee is already in play
8
Use movement abilities
Each bug type has specific movement rules:
9
Covered bugs cannot act
A bug with another bug on top cannot move or use its power
10
Pinned bugs cannot move
A bug at an articulation point (whose removal splits the hive) cannot move but can use its power
11
Resting bugs cannot act
A bug that moved or was moved last turn cannot move or use its power this turn
12
No backtracking allowed
During a sequence of steps, a bug cannot enter a previously visited cell or end where it started

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Surround opponent's Queen Bee
The player whose Queen Bee becomes completely surrounded by bugs (of either color) loses the game
2
Achieve simultaneous surrounding for draw
If both Queen Bees are surrounded on the same turn, the game ends in a draw
3
Draw by repetition
If the exact same position occurs three times, the game ends in a draw
4
Draw by agreement
Players may mutually agree to end the game in a draw

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

25. HIVE La Colmena de John Yianni.

25. HIVE La Colmena de John Yianni.

Instructional

Hive

Hive

Instructional

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FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

PDF RULEBOOK

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