What is Abalone?

Have you ever tried pushing your opponent off a cliff… in a friendly way? If that sounds intriguing, let me introduce you to Abalone, a strategy board game where you literally push your way to victory! Created in 1987 by Michel Lalet and Laurent Lévi, this two-player game is a unique blend of simplicity and depth that has earned it a spot in the hearts of board game lovers worldwide.

The game’s name comes from the abalone, a type of mollusk known for its “ear-shaped” shell. The Italian name for the game, aliotide, combines the Latin prefix “ab-” (meaning “from” or “away”) and the English word “alone,” hinting at the isolated struggle between two opponents.

In Abalone, two players compete on a hexagonal board with 14 marbles each: white for one player, black for the other. The aim is straightforward: be the first to push six of your opponent’s marbles off the board. But as you’ll soon discover, achieving this goal requires careful planning, tactical moves, and a deep understanding of positioning.

Game Components and Setup

The game is played on a hexagonal board with 61 circular positions arranged in rows:

Figure 1: Board layout

Each player starts with 14 marbles, and the initial setup (shown below) places these marbles in a specific formation, primed for strategic movement.


Figure 2: Initial setup

Each position on the board is labeled using a grid system with letters and numbers, allowing players to communicate moves easily.

Basic Rules and Movements

In Abalone, players take turns making a single move per turn. Here are the core rules:

  1. Moving a Marble: On your turn, you can move one marble to any adjacent, empty spot on the board.
  2. Line and Lateral Moves: You can also move a line of two or three marbles as long as they are aligned in the same direction. This can be done in two ways:
    • In-Line Movement: Move all marbles in the line forward in the same direction.
    • Lateral Movement: Shift all marbles in the line to the side without changing their orientation.
  3. Sumito (Pushing Marbles): If your marbles outnumber the adjacent marbles of your opponent in a line, you can push them. For instance, two marbles can push one, and three can push two. Pushing is only possible if there’s an empty spot behind the opposing marble(s) for them to move into.

Special Positioning: “Pac” and Strategic Pushes

The concept of pac is crucial for mastering Abalone. When white and black marbles are aligned in equal numbers, neither player can push the other (this creates a “pac” or standoff). This means that understanding numerical superiority and positioning is essential.

For example, in a scenario where three black marbles face three white marbles, no push is possible. However, a setup with three black marbles against two white marbles allows the black player to push forward. This rule creates opportunities to set up defenses and traps, making the game highly tactical.

Key Strategies for Winning

To succeed in Abalone, keep these strategies in mind:

  1. Control the Center: Marbles near the edges are at greater risk of being pushed out. Maintaining a central position allows flexibility and reduces the likelihood of getting cornered.
  2. Set Up Sumito Opportunities: Since pushing depends on having more marbles in a line, positioning your marbles strategically to outnumber opponents in key areas is vital.
  3. Avoid Isolation: Isolated marbles are easy targets for a Sumito. Keep your marbles grouped to maintain pushing power and defend against your opponent’s moves.
  4. Force a Pac: Sometimes, creating a standoff situation (pac) can disrupt your opponent’s plans, giving you time to reposition your marbles.

Now, enjoy this 90’s commercial or play the game online while I’m writing the rest of the rules!