Quoridor is an abstract strategy game played on a 9x9 board. It is known for its simple rules yet incredibly deep strategic gameplay.
This tutorial dives into the Quoridor rules. You can move forward by pressing the key → of your keyboard or using the arrows below the board.
Players start with their pawns in the center of the top and bottom edges of the board.
As a player, your goal is to reach the opposite side of the board with your pawn:
Players start with their pawns in the center of the top and bottom edges of the board.
As a player, your goal is to reach the opposite side of the board with your pawn:
Players take turns. On their turn, a player can either:
Player White starts the game.
Let's move the pawns closer to the center of the board.
Players take turns. On their turn, a player can either:
Player White starts the game.
Let's move the pawns closer to the center of the board.
Players take turns. On their turn, a player can either:
Player White starts the game.
Let's move the pawns closer to the center of the board.
Players take turns. On their turn, a player can either:
Player White starts the game.
Let's move the pawns closer to the center of the board.
Players take turns. On their turn, a player can either:
Player White starts the game.
Let's move the pawns closer to the center of the board.
It's player White's turn. Let's put a horizontal wall behind the pawn.
As we shall see, this is often a good strategy, but there are other viable options.
Each player can place up to 10 walls. Use them wisely.
It's player Black's turn. Player Black now places a wall in front of player White's pawn... what are their intentions?
Now, the White pawn can only move to the two squares highlighted in red.
It's player White's turn. Let's put a vertical wall at the left of the pawn.
Importantly, walls span two squares and they cannot overlap with each other.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves forward.
Could Black have placed a wall at the right of White's pawn?
No, that is not possible. In Quoridor, pawns cannot be trapped. For each pawn, there must always exist at least one path to one of their target squares.
It's player White's turn. White pawn moves to the right.
Player Black places a wall in front of White's pawn.
Player White should be careful. Can you think why?
Player White places a vertical wall below.
This is an important play, because the potential wall highlighted in red would have made White's path significantly longer. After White's move, putting that wall is no longer possible.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves to the left.
It's player White's turn. Let's put a horizontal wall to prevent Black from making our path longer.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves to the left.
It's player White's turn. White pawn moves to the right.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves down.
Player Black is dangerously approaching their goal. Can we prevent it?
Yes we can. Let's use two horizontal walls to block Black's most direct path.
If we achieve this, the Black pawn will need to go around via a longer path.
Black would love to put a wall that blocks their longer path... But this is not possible because it would also trap White's pawn.
Instead, Black places a vertical wall to prevent us from blocking their shortest path.
Unfortunately for Black, the last vertical wall is not enough.
It's player White's turn. White places another vertical wall parallel to Black's wall. This way, Black's shortest path can be blocked by either one of the horizontal walls highlighted in red.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves up, giving up on the shortest path.
It's player White's turn. White pawn moves to the right.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves to the right.
It's player White's turn. If we move the pawn up, player Black will then be able to block their longest path.
To keep it simple, player White blocks Black's shortest path.
It's player Black's turn. Black places a horizontal wall.
It's player White's turn. White places a vertical wall.
This is a nice play because:
To continue with their plan, White would like to put the vertical wall highlighted in red.
It's player Black's turn. Black places a horizontal wall.
Black now intends to put the wall highlighted in red.
It's player White's turn. Putting the horizontal wall highlighted in red might be counterproductive. Can you see why?
Instead, White moves the pawn forward.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves to the right.
It's player White's turn. White pawn moves to the left.
It's player Black's turn. Black pawn moves up.
It's player White's turn. White places a horizontal wall.
It's player Black's turn. Black places a vertical wall.
This move prevents White from placing the wall highlighted in red.
It's player White's turn. White places a vertical wall.
This is the last wall of White. This wall ensures a smooth victory.
It's player Black's turn. Black moves the pawn to the left.
It's player White's turn. White moves the pawn up.
It's player Black's turn. Black moves the pawn up.
It's player White's turn. White moves the pawn up.
It's player Black's turn. Black moves the pawn up.
It's player White's turn. White moves the pawn to the left.
It's player Black's turn. Black moves the pawn up.
It's player White's turn. White moves the pawn to the left.
It's player Black's turn. Black moves the pawn to the right
It's player White's turn. White moves the pawn up.
It's player Black's turn.
White's pawn is below Black's pawn. In this case, Black jumps White's pawn.
It's player White's turn. White moves the pawn up and wins the game.
Well done on completing the tutorial!