Lines of Action

A sharp two-player abstract where every checker moves exactly as far as the pieces sharing its line, and the first player to connect all their pieces into a single group wins.

How to play

Lines of Action is played on an 8×8 board. One side starts with pieces along the top and bottom edges, the other down the left and right. Your goal is to join all of your own pieces into one connected group — touching horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

A piece moves in a straight line (across, up and down, or diagonally) exactly as many squares as there are pieces — yours and the opponent's — anywhere on that whole line. You may jump over your own pieces but not the opponent's, and landing on an enemy piece captures it.

• Count every piece on a line, in both directions, to know exactly how far a move travels.
• Captures help you by shrinking the opponent's group and removing blockers.
• The instant all your pieces form one connected cluster, you win — even on the move that connects them.

Controls

• Desktop: click one of your checkers to see its legal destinations as dots, then click a dot to move.
• Phone & tablet: tap a piece, then tap a highlighted square — no keyboard needed.
• Capture targets are ringed in red so you can see which moves take a piece.

Game modes

• Vs Computer — pick Easy, Medium, or Hard, and choose whether you play Black or White (Black moves first).
• 2-Player — pass one device back and forth with a friend.
• Online — create an invite code or quick-match against a real person.

Tips & strategy

• Pulling your scattered pieces toward a central cluster is usually safer than chasing captures.
• Capturing isn't always good — removing a piece can change line counts and stall your own connection.
• Watch the opponent's loose pieces; sometimes blocking their last link wins the race.

About Lines of Action

Lines of Action is a traditional connection-and-movement abstract whose distance-equals-line-count rule makes every move a small calculation. This is an original, free browser version with computer opponents, pass-and-play, and live online matches — no download or sign-up.

A free, original browser game on PlayPendium — no download, no install. Browse all games →