How To Play: Focus

Overview

I first played Focus with my friends one Friday night after we got tired of losing at Monopoly. We laughed, yelled, and maybe flipped a table (sorry, Ben). This guide gives a quick outline of the game rules with a How To Play focus, plus my top strategies for actually winning the game. Spoiler: it’s more than just stacking pieces and hoping for the best.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 18 Green pieces
• 18 Red pieces
• 18 Yellow pieces
• 18 Blue pieces
• Rules booklet

How To Play Focus: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Put the Focus board in the middle of the table. Try not to spill your drink on it. Trust me.
2. Each player picks a color and takes all their pieces. Show off your color pride a little, if you want.
3. Follow the board’s diagram to set up stacks of two pieces on each space, making sure to place colors as shown. Yes, it looks confusing at first, but it gets better.
4. Decide who goes first. I suggest arm wrestling. Or, just let the loudest friend start.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, pick a stack with your color piece on top. Don’t get sneaky and pick someone else’s!
2. Move your chosen stack in a straight line (orthogonally, not diagonally) as many spaces as there are pieces in that stack. For example, three pieces move three spaces. No math degree needed.
3. If your move lands on another stack, combine them. If your piece is not on top anymore, you’ve made a mistake. Take it back and try again.
4. If a stack grows over five pieces, remove the extras from the bottom and keep them as your reserve. These are handy for later mischief.
5. On any turn, instead of moving, place one of your reserves anywhere on the board. Just no stacking the fridge with snacks as well.

Winning

1. Keep playing until no one can make a legal move.
2. The winner is the last player who can still make a move, or the player with the most pieces on the board if everyone gets stuck like jam in a jar.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. You can only move stacks with your own color on top. If you can’t, you must use a reserve if you have one.
2. If you run out of moves and have no reserves, you’re out of the game. Cue dramatic music.
3. When capturing, any pieces not yours go back to their owner’s reserve pile. Sometimes losing a piece is really winning a chance later!
4. Keep your eyes peeled for sneaky traps and blockades. This isn’t checkers—it bites back!

With these rules, you’ll know How To Play Focus and might even surprise your friends with a sneaky stack or two. I’ve played so many rounds my friends now hide the board when they see me. Good luck—and don’t forget to play with snacks on hand!

Best Focus Strategies

Stack Control and Movement: Rule the Focus Board

Why Stack Control Matters

You want to move stacks, not just pieces. A big stack lets you boss the board. Grab stacks before your friends do, or they’ll grab yours!

Best Ways to Move Stacks

1. Count spaces! Big stacks move farther. Use this to surprise everyone.
2. Attack weak stacks. Eat them up for power.
3. Keep your stacks together. Scattered stacks get picked off.

How To Play focus with Stack Domination

Always guard high stacks, but strike fast with middling ones. Outmaneuver your opponents and rule the table!

Mastering Reserve Management for Victory

Why Reserves Matter

Reserves are your hidden army. They let you react fast and keep options open. If you focus on How To Play focus, you always keep an eye on your reserves for surprise moves.

How To Capture Pieces

Capturing smartly will boost your reserves. Don’t just gobble up stacks. Instead, target stacks that put strong pieces into your pocket.

1. Pick off weakened enemy stacks for easy gains.
2. Break up big opposing stacks to fill your reserve with power.

Turning Reserves Into Wins

Use reserves to block threats or take back lost ground. Well-timed drops flip a whole game. Plan two steps ahead and watch your rivals sweat.

1. Save key colors for clutch endgames.
2. Drop pieces to create double threats or urgent attacks.

Mastering Board Positioning and Timing in Focus

Corner Power Plays

Board edges can save your stack from ambush. When you stick close to corners, rival attacks become harder. Try these moves:

1. Slide big stacks to corners to limit directions they can get hit from.
2. Trap enemy stacks by blocking escape routes near the edge.

Mid-Game Momentum

Mid-game is not the time to nap. Instead, make bold moves:

1. Keep your stacks mobile and ready to strike weak spots.
2. Keep an eye on the How To Play focus for best mid-game choices.

Perfect Timing for Attacks

Striking too soon can backfire. Instead, wait for the right moment:

1. Wait until rivals are split before attacking.
2. Time your big attacks when opponents are out of reserves.

Master The Madness—Become The Focus Fiend!

If you’ve read this far, congrats! You’re now more ready than my friend Dave after his sixth coffee. The best How To Play focus tip I can give: stay nimble, manage those reserves and always look out for the sneaky stacks. I’ve lost matches by going on autopilot and forgetting about the board edges—learn from my blunders! With a little practice (and maybe some bribery, but don’t tell anyone), you’ll be stacking your way to victory in no time.

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