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Game Components
Blokus Game Board
(400 squares)
84 game pieces (four
21-piece sets of red, green, blue, and yellow)
Note: Each of the
sets contains 21 pieces, each a different shape. The 21 red,
green, blue, and yellow pieces in each set include:
1 one-square piece
1 piece with 2
squares
2 pieces with 3
squares
5 pieces with 4
squares
12 pieces with 5
squares
Goal of the Game
Each player has to fit as many of his/her 21 pieces on the board as
possible.
HOW TO PLAY
1.
Each player chooses a color and places that set of 21
pieces in front of his/her side of the board. The order of play is
as follows: blue, yellow, red, and then green.
2.
The first player (blue) places any of his/her pieces in
a corner square. Play proceeds clockwise around the board (yellow,
red, and green), each player putting their first piece down in one of
the corner squares.
3.
Play continues as each player lays down one piece during
a turn.
Each new
piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only
at the corners.
No flat
edges of same color pieces can touch.
There
are no restrictions on how pieces of different colors can touch one
another.
4.
Whenever a player is unable to place one of his/her remaining pieces
on the board, that player must pass his/her turn.
End of Game
The game ends when all players are blocked from laying down any more
of their pieces. This also includes any players who may have
placed all of their pieces on the board. Scores are tallied, and
the player with the highest score is the winner.
Scoring
Each
player counts the number of unit squares in his/her remaining pieces
(1 unit square = -1 point).
A player
earns +15 points if all his/her pieces have been placed on the board
plus 5 additional bonus points if the last piece placed on the board
was the smallest piece (one square).
Duration of
Game
Games typically last 20 - 30 min.
GAME VARIATIONS
Teams
(two teams of two players - four players total)
The
playing order stays the same: blue, yellow, red, and then green.
One team
controls the blue and red pieces, and the other team controls the
yellow and green pieces.
At the
end of the game, each team calculates its score by adding the scores
of its members. The winners are the players of the team with the
highest score.
One-Player
Brain Teaser
Eighty-four -
Play as four separate players in a standard
four-player game with the aim of getting all 84 pieces on the board.
4-Square Game - There are 20 four-square pieces in the set.
The challenge is to fit these 20 four-square pieces into an 8 × 10
rectangular area. Each piece must touch the corner of a piece of
the same color, but no touching can occur along the flat edge of a
same-color piece.
Two Players
The
playing order stays the same: blue, yellow, red, and then green.
One
player controls the blue and red pieces, and the other player controls
the yellow and green pieces.
At the
end of the game each player calculates his/her score by adding the
scores for their colors. The winner is the player with the
highest score.
Three
Players
Each
player chooses one color; the players alternate playing the extra
color.
The
player order stays the same: blue, yellow, red, and then green.
Final
scores are calculated in the same way as standard 4-player games.
The score of the shared color is ignored.
STRATEGY
TIPS
At the
beginning of the game, move towards the center of the board in order
to take up a maximum amount of space. If you remain confined to
the corner you start in, you will not be able to put down many pieces.
Try to
place the largest pieces on the board at the beginning of the game.
If you save them for the end of the game, there may not be space for
them. Keep an eye on the corners of your pieces - make sure you
have options for your next move.
Take
advantage of the characteristics of your pieces. Their shapes
give them different offensive or defensive potential, so learn to use
them accordingly.
Throughout the game, keep one or more means of escape on each side of
the area containing your color (or colors).
Block
your opponent by covering his or her most advanced corners to prevent
him or her from moving forward. Note: Be patient - it is
sometimes better to hang back slightly from the opponent's pieces and
let your opponent expose him or herself so that you can then block him
or her more effectively.
Take
note of the squares where no other player can play and keep these
spaces (and their corresponding pieces) in reserve while you play in a
more exposed area. You can always come back to the protected
spaces later.
When
playing, keep in mind not only your remaining pieces, but also your
opponent's remaining pieces. Your opponent may not be able to
exploit an empty area if he or she doesn't have the correct pieces.
Remember:
Players who put all their pieces on the board can gain up to 20 points.
Prevent your opponent from putting all of his or her pieces on the board
even if this prevents you from placing some of your own pieces on the
board.
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