Havannah (1980)

Havannah

Havannah is a two-player abstract strategy board game invented by Christian Freeling in 1981. The game was inspired by the classic games of Hex and TwixT. Havannah is played on a hexagonal board with hexagonal cells. The game is named after the capital city of Cuba, Havana.

Why is Havannah Popular?

Havannah is popular among abstract strategy game enthusiasts due to its simple rules and deep gameplay. The game has been played competitively since the 1990s and has a dedicated following. Havannah is also significant because it is one of the few abstract strategy games that has been solved for board sizes up to 8×8.

Game Components of Havannah

A hexagonal board with hexagonal cells28 white pieces28 black pieces

Game Setup of Havannah

The board is placed between the two players.The white player places the first piece on any cell.The black player places the second piece on any cell that is not adjacent to the first piece.Players alternate placing pieces until all pieces are on the board.

Gameplay Mechanics of Havannah

Players take turns placing pieces on the board.A piece can be placed on any empty cell.A player can connect their pieces to form a ring, a fork, or a bridge.A ring is a closed loop of pieces of the same color.A fork is a group of three pieces of the same color that are not in a straight line.A bridge is a group of two pieces of the same color that are connected by a third piece of the opposite color.A player wins the game by forming one of these structures before their opponent.

Game Objective of Havannah

The objective of Havannah is to form a ring, a fork, or a bridge before your opponent.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.