How To Play: Amazons

Overview

Ready to become the undefeated champ at Amazons? I’ve played more rounds of this classic than I care to admit (my friends are still plotting revenge). In this guide, you’ll find a clear outline of the game rules and all the best tips I’ve gathered on How To Play amazons. Get your arrows ready, because it’s time to outsmart everyone at the table!

What’s in the box

• 1 game board
• 8 amazon pieces (4 per player)
• 40 arrow pieces
• 1 rulebook

How To Play Amazons: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the 10×10 board in the center of the table.
2. Each player picks a color and takes four amazons of that color.
3. Place amazons on their starting squares (corners and one-in-from-corner for both players).
4. Keep the 40 arrow markers within easy reach.

Gameplay

1. The youngest player goes first. Play continues clockwise.
2. On your turn, move one of your amazons like a queen in chess (any direction, as far as you want, but not through obstacles).
3. After you move your amazon, choose a square to shoot an arrow from your amazon’s new spot. Again, think ‘queen move’—any direction, as far as you want.
4. Put an arrow marker on the square you choose. No one can move onto or through this square for the rest of the game—arrows work better than my Aunt Linda’s gossip.

Winning

1. The game ends when no one can move any amazon on their turn.
2. Count up how many empty squares each player has their amazons locked into (grouped and blocked-off by arrows or the board edge).
3. The player with the most territory wins. If you tie, flip a coin and share cookies.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If an amazon can’t move, it just sits there looking pretty for the rest of the game. You must move one that CAN move, if you have any.
2. No jumping over arrows or other amazons. Practice your weaving skills elsewhere.
3. Once you place an arrow, it stays there forever. No takebacks!
4. Remember: The key to winning lies in clever blocking and area control. Out-think your friends—or at least pretend you did.

Now you know How To Play amazons! May your arrows fly straight and your friends’ amazons get stuck in tight corners.

Best Amazons Strategies

Seize the Board: Mastering Control and Area Denial in Amazons

Why Board Control Matters

Board control in Amazons is not just helpful—it’s your ticket to victory. After you move, look for spots your opponent can’t reach easily, and cut them off. Often, who controls the center wins the war.

Winning with Area Denial

Area denial means blocking space on the board so your rival runs out of options. The more you make them squirm, the better.

1. Move Amazons to lock down wide-open spaces.
2. Shoot arrows to block key paths and bottlenecks.
3. Box in your opponent’s pieces whenever possible.

How To Play Amazons with Ruthless Control

Remember, every move shapes the board. Block, box, and boss your way to victory. That’s how you win at Amazons!

Mastering Queen Movement to Outsmart Opponents in Amazons

Stay Flexible with Early Queen Placement

At the start, keep your queens spaced out. This helps you control more of the board and makes it hard for others to trap you. Early flexibility is key to setting up big moves later.

1. Position queens in open areas.
2. Avoid lining up queens beside each other.

Strike Quickly with Threats

When you spot an opening, move a queen to threaten a big area. Fast threats force rivals to change their plan and give you an edge in How To Play amazons.

1. Identify weak zones in enemy lines.
2. Advance a queen to split their area.

Retreat When Necessary

If a queen gets cornered, don’t panic. Back off and look for a safer spot. Sometimes, moving back gives you a chance to regroup and attack from another angle.

1. Escape crowded zones.
2. Use open space to redirect pressure.

Arrow Placement for Ultimate Blocking Power in Amazons

Pick Your Targets Wisely

1. Focus on cutting off key routes your opponent loves to use.
2. Target spaces that split the board and trap queens early.

Time the Block

1. Wait until your opponent commits before you fire off a nasty arrow.
2. Surprise blocks work best just before someone claims a big area.

Chokepoint Madness

1. Block choke points so enemy queens get lonely fast.
2. Double-up on thin passages for extra pain.

If you want to master How To Play amazons, try blocking off sections instead of just annoying your friends. Good arrow placement wins games and friendships—well, maybe not that last part, but you get the idea!

Become an Amazon Queen (or King)!

So there you have it – my friends still groan when I suggest one more round of this tense brain-burner. But hey, practice makes perfect, and someone’s gotta show them how to play amazons like a champ! Block, move, and trap like your cardboard life depends on it. May your arrows fly true, and your opponents groan louder than mine. Happy gaming!

Want to know what we think of Amazons? Read our detailed review of Amazons here