Lines of Action
8×8 board, 12 pieces each. Move exactly as many squares as pieces on the line. Connect all your pieces into one group to win!
Frequently Asked Questions
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How far can a piece move in Lines of Action?
A piece moves in a straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) exactly as many squares as there are pieces — of either color — on that line. For example, if the row you're moving along has 5 total pieces on it, you move exactly 5 squares. The count includes the moving piece itself.
Can I jump over opponent's pieces?
No. You may jump over your own pieces, but you may never jump over an opponent's piece. If an opponent's piece blocks the path, that move is illegal in that direction. Landing on an opponent's piece captures it.
What does 'connect all pieces' mean?
All your pieces must form a single connected group, where pieces are adjacent horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (8-way adjacency). This is checked with a flood-fill: starting from one piece, you must be able to reach every other piece by stepping between adjacent ones.
What happens if both players connect on the same move?
If a single move connects both players' pieces into single groups, the player who made that move wins — finishing your own group comes first, even when the move happens to connect the opponent's pieces too.
Explore Game Details
About Lines of Action
Lines of Action (LOA) is an abstract strategy board game designed by Claude Soucie in the 1960s, later refined with Sid Sackson. Played on an 8×8 board, it is unusual in that the goal is connection rather than capture — you win by uniting all your pieces into a single group.
Benefits
Playing Lines of Action develops counting, connectivity thinking, and spatial visualization. Each move's distance depends on the number of pieces on a line, training you to read dynamic board states and plan multi-step connections — a sharp exercise in tactical arithmetic and group coordination.
How to Play
- The game is played on an 8×8 board. Each player has 12 pieces placed on the edges of the board, excluding the four corners. Black occupies the top and bottom rows; White occupies the left and right columns.
- On your turn, move one of your pieces in a straight line — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal — exactly as many squares as there are pieces (both colors combined) on that line of action.
- You may jump over your own pieces during the move, but you may not jump over opponent's pieces. If the destination square holds an opponent's piece, you capture it; you cannot land on your own piece.
- The goal is to connect all your pieces into a single group. Pieces are connected if they touch orthogonally or diagonally (8-way connectivity), as determined by a flood-fill check.
- If a move simultaneously connects both players' pieces into single groups, the moving player (the one who just moved) wins. Completing your own connection always takes priority, even if the same move also connects the opponent.
- If a player is reduced to a single piece, that piece is trivially 'connected' and the player wins. The game can also end by repeated position or agreement.
Strategy Tips
Count before moving: Always count the pieces on the line you plan to move along — the distance equals that count. Miscounting is the most common beginner mistake.
Don't scatter early: In the opening, keep your pieces somewhat clustered. A scattered group takes many moves to reunite; a tight group connects faster.
Use captures wisely: Capturing reduces the opponent's pieces, which can make their remaining pieces easier to connect — sometimes it's better to leave an enemy piece blocking their own connection.
Mind mutual connection: completing your own group wins even if the same move also connects the opponent's pieces — but that cuts both ways, so deny the opponent any move that would connect both groups at once.
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