Freeboard

Overview

• Abstract game played on a 9×9 board.
• 2 or 4 players.
• The first player to move their pawn to the opposite side of the board wins.
• Walls can be placed to restrict pawn moves.

Gameplay

• Each player has one pawn which starts in the middle of their respective side.
• 20 walls are distributed equally to all players.
  • i.e. 2 players: 10 each
  • i.e. 4 players: 5 each
• Players take turns to either:
  • Move their pawn
  • Place a wall

Pawn Movement

• Adjacent squares in orthogonal directions.
  • i.e. forwards, backwards, or sideways.
• Not through a wall.
• Not onto the same square as another pawn.
• Jump over an orthogonally adjacent pawn:
  • When two pawns face each other on neighboring squares which are not separated by a fence:
    • The player whose turn it is can jump the opponent’s pawn (and place himself behind him), thus advancing an extra square (fig. "Jump Behind").
  • If there is a fence behind the said pawn:
    • The player can place his pawn to the left or the right of the other pawn (fig. "Jump Aside")
  • Note: jumps are never mandatory.

Wall Placement

• Each wall is two squares long.
• Must be placed between squares, aligned with the grid.
• May not jut out of the board.
• May not block all paths for each pawn to reach their destination side.
• Note: if a player places all their walls, they can no longer place walls.

Game end

• A player wins if their pawn reaches any one of the nine squares on its destination side, opposite to their starting side.
• A team wins if either pawn reaches its destination side.