How to Play Breakthrough: Learn the Rules
Breakthrough is a modern abstract strategy game invented by Dan Troyka in 2000 that won the 2001 8x8 Game Design Competition. Played on a chess board with two rows of pawns each, the goal is beautifully simple: be the first to march a single pawn across the board to your opponent's home row. Easy to learn in seconds, Breakthrough hides surprising tactical depth in its races, blockades, and sacrifices.
How to Play Breakthrough: Learn the Rules
Breakthrough is a modern abstract strategy game invented by Dan Troyka in 2000 that won the 2001 8x8 Game Design Competition. Played on a chess board with two rows of pawns each, the goal is beautifully simple: be the first to march a single pawn across the board to your opponent's home row. Easy to learn in seconds, Breakthrough hides surprising tactical depth in its races, blockades, and sacrifices.
Objective
Win by moving one of your pawns onto the row furthest from you, your opponent's home row. You also win if you capture every one of your opponent's pawns. Because pawns can only move forward, the game can never end in a draw.
Setup
Breakthrough is played on a standard 8x8 board. Each player starts with 16 pawns filling the two rows nearest to them. One player's pawns advance up the board while the other's advance down, so the two armies face each other across an empty center.
Gameplay
Players alternate turns, moving one pawn per turn. A pawn may step one square straight forward or one square diagonally forward into an empty square. To capture, a pawn moves one square diagonally forward onto an opponent pawn and removes it, taking its place. Captures are made diagonally only, are never forced, and a pawn can never capture or move straight into an occupied square. Pawns may never move backward or sideways.
Winning
The instant one of your pawns reaches the far row, you win. You must balance advancing your own pawns while blocking your opponent's progress. Every pawn you push forward is a potential threat, but every gap you leave is an opportunity for your enemy. Trading pawns, building protected columns, and timing a single decisive breakthrough are the keys to victory.
Objective
Win by moving one of your pawns onto the row furthest from you, your opponent's home row. You also win if you capture every one of your opponent's pawns. Because pawns can only move forward, the game can never end in a draw.
Setup
Breakthrough is played on a standard 8x8 board. Each player starts with 16 pawns filling the two rows nearest to them. One player's pawns advance up the board while the other's advance down, so the two armies face each other across an empty center.
Gameplay
Players alternate turns, moving one pawn per turn. A pawn may step one square straight forward or one square diagonally forward into an empty square. To capture, a pawn moves one square diagonally forward onto an opponent pawn and removes it, taking its place. Captures are made diagonally only, are never forced, and a pawn can never capture or move straight into an occupied square. Pawns may never move backward or sideways.
Winning
The instant one of your pawns reaches the far row, you win. You must balance advancing your own pawns while blocking your opponent's progress. Every pawn you push forward is a potential threat, but every gap you leave is an opportunity for your enemy. Trading pawns, building protected columns, and timing a single decisive breakthrough are the keys to victory.
Learn, Play, and Have Fun!
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