Lines of Action (1969) – Board Game Guys

Lines of Action

Lines of Action (LOA) is an abstract strategy board game for two players invented by Claude Soucie in 1969. The game was included in Sid Sackson’s book “A Gamut of Games” in the same year. The objective of the game is to connect all of one’s pieces into a single group.

Why is Lines of Action Popular?

LOA is a popular game among abstract strategy board game enthusiasts. It has been recommended by the Spiel des Jahres in 1988, and it is considered a classic game. The game is significant because it is easy to learn, but it has a high level of strategic depth.

Game Components of Lines of Action

– An ordinary checkerboard (8×8 squares)
– 12 black and 12 white pieces

Game Setup of Lines of Action

The board is set up with the black pieces on one side and the white pieces on the other. Each player’s pieces are arranged in three rows of four pieces each.

Gameplay Mechanics of Lines of Action

Players alternate moves, with black having the first move. The pieces move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, but only in a straight line. A piece can jump over other pieces, either friendly or enemy, as long as the landing square is empty. The game can become quite tactical in open positions where the pieces on both sides are mobile. The strategic depth of the game, however, derives to a large extent from blocking strategies designed to limit the opponent’s options.

Game Objective of Lines of Action

The object of the game is to bring all of one’s pieces together into a contiguous body so that they are connected vertically, horizontally, or diagonally (8-connectivity).

Player Experience

LOA is a game that is easy to learn but difficult to master. It has a high level of strategic depth, and players must think several moves ahead to be successful. The game can become quite tactical in open positions where the pieces on both sides are mobile.

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