Dao Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components and Setup
• Moves
• Captures and Passing
• Wining positions

Components and Setup

In the game there are four red (or any colour) and four blue (a different colour) pieces. Each player takes four pieces of one colour.

The beginning setup is that each player will form an "X" that is aligned "diagonally" from the corners of the board.

Moves

Each player will take turns moving their coloured pieces in a straight line (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) towards any available, or "open", position.

Each player must move their pieces as far as possible during each turn, till their pieces reach the end of the board or till their pieces reach another one of own or opponent pieces. Players are not allowed to jump over their opponent's pieces or enter a position that is already occupied.

During each turn, players have to move as many spaces as there are "open" positions in their path (i.e. if there are 3 "open" spaces in Player 1's direction, Player 1 must move 3 spaces).

The source includes an example diagram: if red plays the piece shown, there are six possible moves. As the example shows, it cannot move one square to the south; it must move two squares. (Always as far as possible.)

Captures and Passing

There are no captures in Dao.

In your turn you must play. Passes are not allowed.

Wining positions

In the game there are five winning positions. The goal of the game is to be the first to reach one of the following five winning configurations:

1. All your pieces form one horizontal line.
2. All your pieces form one vertical line.
3. Your pieces occupy the four corners of the board.
4. Your pieces form a 2 × 2 square anywhere on the board.
5. One of your pieces is enclosed by three opponent pieces in one of the corners of the board. (Red wins.)