Hive - a game buzzing with possibilities! Hive set

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Show Hive to a friend

As with most games, showing Hive to a friend can be a difficult balancing act. You don't want to bombard your friend with all the rules at once, but similarly you don't want to forget to mention any rules either. Here's a step-by-step guide we have found useful when we have been in the same situation ourselves, so feel free to try it too:

Step 1: The aim of the game
the black Queen Bee is surrounded Arrange any six pieces (some black, some white) around one of the Queen Bees. While you are doing this, explain: "One person is black and the other white; the aim of the game is to completely surround your opponent's Queen Bee with pieces of any colour."

Step2: The start
Give your friend all the pieces in one colour and take the others yourself. Place one of your pieces into the centre of the table. While you are doing this, explain: The game starts with one player placing any one of their pieces into the centre of the table. The other player then adds to this piece." (Ask your friend to join one of their pieces to yours.)

Step3: Placing pieces
Do not touch your opponent's colour "Apart from these first two pieces, you cannot touch your opponent's colour when placing pieces. So I'll do this..." Join a Grasshopper to the first piece you placed and ask your friend to place another piece.

Step 4: The Queen Bee & moving pieces
the black Queen Bee has been placed "You must place your Queen Bee between your first and your fourth move, so I'll place mine now." Place your Queen Bee where it won't restrict your Grasshopper's movement. While your friend is responding by placing another piece, explain: "After your Queen Bee has been placed, you can decide if you want to use your turn to place another piece or to move one of the pieces that are already in play. When you move pieces, you can touch your opponent's pieces and this is how you get your pieces to help surround your opponent's Queen Bee."

Step 5: The different creatures
The Grasshopper jumps "Each creature has its own way of moving about the Hive, for example the Grasshopper jumps in a straight line over any number of pieces." Move your Grasshopper accordingly. You can explain how the other creatures move too, though it is usually better to wait until your friend asks you about each one, showing you they are ready to take in more information.

Step 6: Re-iterating the aim of the game
Some newcomers to the game will try to 'protect' their Queen Bee by placing pieces of their own colour around it. If so, you may need to repeat that they lose the game if their Queen Bee gets surrounded with either player's pieces, which means that surrounding their Queen Bee with lots of their own pieces may not be the best thing for them to do!

Step 7: The restrictions
We have found that most people will instictively adhere to the 'One Hive' rule and the 'Freedom to Move' rule or at least ask about them themselves, so there is no need to bring them up straight away. The best time to mention them is when they become strategically important (eg when either player can stop their opponent from moving by using either rule to their advantage).


We have yet to come across a person who did not manage to pick up all the rules in one game. The Movement Quick Reference card included in each game should be enough to remind you of how the different creatures move. For your friendship's sake though, please do not count your first game as a serious game!