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This potentially addictive game is not restricted by needing a board, so it can be played as easily on a train as sitting comfortably at home. Hive is made up of twenty two pieces, eleven black and eleven white, resembling a variety of little creatures each with a unique way of moving. Most are insects – together with a spider. Placing these pieces and then planning their moves is where strategy comes in.

Hive begins when the first piece is placed onto the table. As pieces are added, turn by turn, a structure is created, and that in essence becomes the board. Unlike chess or draughts, pieces are never ‘taken’, so they never leave the board once played.

The object is to totally surround your opponent’s queen bee. At the same time, of course, you are trying to block your opponent from surrounding yours. It doesn’t matter whether the pieces surrounding a queen are yours or your opponent’s: surrounded means ‘surrounded’ 🙂

Why did you put that there? What am I going to do now?”

  • takes a bit of learning … getting used to the moves the pieces make
  • no setting up needed
  • very combative .. abstract
  • replayable
  • skill develops with play
  • definitely calls for strategic thinking
  • no luck involved