Lines of Action

Lines of Action, created by Claude Soucie in the 1960s, is a game of connection with an unusual movement rule. Each side starts with twelve pieces along opposite edges. A piece moves in a straight line — across, down or diagonally — exactly as many squares as there are pieces (of both colours) on that line. It may jump over its own pieces but not over enemy pieces, and it captures by landing on an enemy piece.

The goal is to join all of your pieces into a single connected group (touching side by side or diagonally). If a move connects both groups at once, the player who moved wins.

1. You play light pieces on the left and right edges and move first.
2. Tap a piece to see its legal moves, then tap a destination.
3. Count the pieces on the line to know how far it moves.
4. Join all your pieces into one group to win.

• Head for the centre — that is where groups meet.
• Captures help your opponent: fewer pieces are easier to connect, so capture stragglers only when it hurts them.
• Block their connecting squares rather than chasing pieces.