Bloq

A strategy game for 2 players designed by Hunter Dyar

About

Bloq is a strategy game. The goal is to get one’s piece to the opposite corner before the other player does, and not get blocked out by the other player. Smart, adaptable play is the key.

Pieces

Bloq is played on a 7×7 space (49 spaces), There are two pawns (black and white), and there are 10 ‘bloq’s” (5 white, 5 black).

A checker board modified to be 7×7, checkers for the bloq’s, and chess pawns will work fine.

Setup

Place the two pawns on opposite corners of the board. Each player holds their 5 bloq’s to the side.

Goal

The goal of the game – winning- is to get to the opposite corner first. To get to where the opponent begins. The first player to do this wins.

Playing the Game

Traditionally, white goes first. One a turn, a player may do one of 2 things: Move the pawn or place a bloq. Players alternate turns, and the first one to get to the opposite corner (where the other player began) wins. No diagonal movement. A pawn must move as far in a horizontal or vertical (Manhattan) direction as it can. Pawns movement is stopped by the edge of the board, any color bloq’s, or the other pawn.

Additional Rules

• You may not completely block off the opponents path to the goal square.
• One a turn, you must be able to move your pawn – you can not play in such a way as to prevent the other player from moving their pawn in some direction.
• A player may be entirely locked out from getting to the goal, but there still must be a possible path. In other words, the player is blocked out because they do not have any bloq’s left to free themselves.

Showing possible moves for each player.

Strategy Basics

• It is important to save bloq’s when possible
• Try and work your pawn into an unblockable position to the goal
• Use your opponent’s bloq’s against them.
• Your pawn can be used to temporarily block your opponent