Blockade (board game)
| Players | 2 |
|---|---|
| Age range | 8 and up |
| Setup time | < 1 minute |
| Playing time | 20 minutes |
| Random chance | None |
| Skill(s) required | Deduction |
Blockade is a "the Beat the Barrier" board game for two players, invented by Mirko Marchesi and published by Lakeside Industries in 1975. The newer strategy game Quoridor shares many of the same characteristics as Blockade.
Gameplay and rules
Two players are each given two pawns, nine green walls (which are placed vertically), and nine blue walls (placed horizontally). Pawns are placed on their starting locations on each of the four corners of the 11×14 board. One team's starting location is at [4,4] and [8,4] and the other at [4,11] and [8,11].
The object of the game is for each player to get both their pawns to a starting locations of their opponent. The first to do so wins.
On each turn, a player moves one pawn one or two spaces (horizontally, vertically, or any combination of the two) and places one wall anywhere on the board (useful for blocking off their opponent's move). Walls always cover two squares and must be placed according to their color (vertically or horizontally). Pawns may jump over other pawns that are blocking their path. Once players are out of walls, they keep moving pawns until one wins.