Objective of the Game
Hive is a strategic two-player game where the goal is to surround your opponent's Queen Bee by strategically placing and moving your own tiles, while preventing your Queen Bee from being surrounded.
Components
- A total of 22 ceramic or plastic tiles, divided into two colors (white and black).
- Each player receives:
- 1 Queen Bee
- 2 Spiders
- 2 Beetles
- 3 Ants
- 3 Grasshoppers
Setup
- Each player chooses a color and takes all of the corresponding tiles.
- At the beginning of the game, players do not have any tiles on the board.
Gameplay
Basic Rules
- Players take turns.
- On each turn, a player can either place a new tile from their supply into play or move an existing tile on the board.
- The Queen Bee must be placed on the board by the fourth turn of that player.
- A tile cannot be moved in such a way that it separates the board into two disconnected parts (continuity rule).
Placing Tiles
- The first tile placed by each player must touch each other.
- After that, new tiles must be placed so that they only touch their own player's tiles and not the opponent's.
- Once a player's Queen Bee is placed, tiles may be placed touching the opponent's tiles.
Movement of Tiles
- Queen Bee: Moves one space in any direction as long as it fits into a gap.
- Spider: Moves exactly three spaces along adjacent tiles.
- Beetle: Moves like the Queen but can also be placed onto other tiles, blocking them during its stay.
- Ant: Can be moved any number of spaces along adjacent tiles.
- Grasshopper: Jumps over other tiles in a straight line and lands on the first empty space beyond them.
Winning Conditions
- A player wins by completely surrounding the opponent’s Queen Bee with tiles, which may include both players' tiles.
- A draw can be achieved if both Queen Bees are surrounded on the same move.
Strategic Tips
- Central Queen Placement: Placing your Queen early can lead to more positioning options.
- Remain Flexible: Keep Beetles and Ants ready for flexible responses to your opponent's moves.
- Ants for Control: Use Ants to control the board as they have the longest reach besides the Grasshopper’s movement.
With careful planning of your moves and anticipation of your opponent’s strategy, you can protect your Queen Bee and effectively surround the opponent's Queen Bee.
