Learn it in 5 minutes

How to Play QuadroPlace

Use this page to understand the core rules, the differences between game modes and a few practical strategy tips before your first match.

The basics

The game is played on an 8×8 board. Each player starts with 12 pieces, and the goal is to fill one of the thick-bordered 2×2 target squares with your own pieces. A full match lasts 4 rounds, and the points carry over from round to round.

Example of completing the 2×2 target square

How a round works

Every round begins with a placement phase where players alternate placing pieces on empty cells. After that comes the movement phase, where the selected difficulty determines whether you can only step, also jump, or in Hard mode also surround and recover pieces. A round ends with a completed target square, a block, or in Hard mode by removing the opponent's ninth piece.

Easy Level

Easy mode is the simplest version. On each turn, one piece moves to an adjacent empty square horizontally or vertically. It is ideal for first matches and for learning to recognize target-square threats.

Medium Level

Medium mode expands Easy with jumps. If a player forms a horizontal or vertical line of at least 4 own pieces, then on their next turn one of those pieces may jump to any empty square on the board. This creates sudden reversals and stronger tactical threats.

Example of the horizontal 4-piece medium jump pattern

Example of the vertical 4-piece medium jump pattern

Hard Level

The Medium rules are expanded with two types of surround capture. If a player places their own pieces on all four diagonal corner squares of one opposing piece (diamond shape), or their own pieces occupy the left and right sides as well as the upper and lower neighboring squares of that piece (cross shape), they may remove the surrounded piece.

Example of the diamond-shaped hard capture pattern

Example of the cross-shaped hard capture pattern

Piece Recovery

A removed piece can be recovered. If a player can place at least 4 of their own pieces on adjacent diagonal squares in any direction, they may put one of their removed pieces back onto any empty square on the board.

Example of the first hard recovery pattern

Example of the second hard recovery pattern

Scoring

Your score depends on where the winning 2×2 square is formed and on how the round ends. The cumulative total decides the match.

The 4 central 2×2 squares on the board (light blue): 3 points
4 corner squares (light green): 1 point
Other squares: 2 points
Blocking: Easy = 1 point, Medium = 2 points, Hard = 4 points.
In timed play, if nobody completes a winning thick-bordered 2×2 target square before time runs out, the player with the lower total thinking time wins. In that case, the winner receives 0.5 points.
Removing 9 opponent pieces: 4 points.

(The program measures each player's thinking time automatically from the placement of the first piece.)

Points accumulate from round to round. The player who collects the most points wins the full match.

Strategy tips

Watch the center. The central target squares are worth more points, so control there often sets the pace of the match.

Track the opponent's threats. On every turn, check which target square your opponent could threaten next instead of looking only at your own plan.

Build four-in-a-row in Medium. A horizontal or vertical line of four is not just shape building. It is a jump lane to any empty square.

In Hard, expect the comeback. A removed piece is not always gone for good, so judge threats together with possible recovery placements.

Ready for your first round?

Open the homepage, choose a mode and start a shared-screen QuadroPlace match.

Play now