How To Play: Focus

Focus is a clever abstract game where you move and stack pieces, aiming to control the board’s center and outsmart your pals. The rules are simple, but planning stack moves and splitting at the right time is key. Master these strategies to really up your How To Play focus skills!

Focus: Box Cover Front

Overview

If you’ve ever had your breakfast ruined by a bad game of Focus, you’re not alone. I’ve played this classic brain-bender with friends who somehow always out-stack me. In this guide, I’ll give you a quick rundown of the rules and share the sneaky tricks I’ve learned. I’ll cover the best strategies for winning, all spiced up with my own hard-won (and sometimes painful) experience. How To Play focus has never been so fun!

What’s in the box

  • 1 game board
  • 18 green pieces
  • 18 red pieces
  • 18 yellow pieces
  • 18 blue pieces
  • Rulesheet

How To Play Focus: Rules Summary

Setup

  1. Place the game board on the table, making sure all players can reach it. Stretch if you must, but don’t knock over your drink.
  2. Each player picks a color and takes their pieces. Act confident, even if you have no idea what’s about to happen.
  3. Set up your pieces on the marked spots on the board. If you put them in your pocket, you’re cheating.

Gameplay

  1. Players take turns moving stacks or single pieces according to the number of pieces in the stack. So, a three-high stack moves three spaces. Yes, it’s as wild as it sounds.
  2. You may move stacks made up of mixed colors, but only if your color is on top. Think of it as being king of a wobbly hill.
  3. When stacks land on other stacks, combine them into one mega-stack. If the stack grows over five, remove pieces from the bottom. More on this in a moment.

Winning

  1. Keep playing until only one player is left with moves. Everyone else runs out of legal moves or has no pieces on the board. That’s showbiz, baby.
  2. The winner is the last player who still has moves on their turn. Expect bragging rights and annoyed friends.

Special Rules & Conditions

  1. Whenever a stack gets taller than five, remove pieces from the bottom until only five are left. If you remove your color, keep it for future use. It’s like doggy-bagging for board gamers.
  2. If you remove an opponent’s color, banish those pieces from the game. They’re out for good—no second chances here!
  3. Remember, you can only move a stack if your color is on top, even if everyone shouts at you to do otherwise.

And that’s the How To Play Focus rules summary—easy to learn, tricky to master. If you ever get stuck, just remember: tall stacks move far, and owning the top spot is everything.

Best Focus Strategies

Master Every Move: Piece Movement Tactics in Focus

Plan Ahead, Don’t Panic

Think before you move! I once rushed turn one, then watched my stack get trapped. Instead, always look ahead!

  1. Visualize your next two turns.
  2. Spot possible traps from your rivals.
  3. Check if your move helps later stacks.
Use Flexible Moves

You can split your stacks! This trick—learned after a long night with friends—makes all the difference.

  1. Split smart, not random.
  2. Move singles to open paths.
  3. Keep strong stacks together if danger lurks.
React to Rivals

Don’t ignore others. Their moves will mess up your plans unless you stay sharp.

  1. Block their big stacks.
  2. Force rivals into the corners.
  3. Watch for sneaky split moves.

Stacking Smarts: How To Play Focus Like a Pro

Use Your Opponent’s Pieces

Trick your rivals by stacking their pieces on yours. This limits their options and makes them sweat.

  1. Plan moves that force opponents to pile onto your stacks.
  2. Trap key colors at the bottom.
Stay Flexible

Always keep an eye out for spots to unstack and spread out. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

  1. Split stacks to cover more territory.
  2. Unstack to reach distant targets quick.
Max Out Your Movement

Use tall stacks to move further, but don’t get greedy. Big stacks are hard to control!

  1. Balance size and mobility.
  2. Never forget that smaller stacks can win you key objectives.

Win Focus by Owning the Board Center!

If you want to win at Focus, the board center is your best friend. After making this mistake once, my group never ignored the middle again. Everyone started fighting for those juicy center stacks. Here’s how you can master the middle:

Position Wisely Early On

  1. Advance your pieces to central squares right away.
  2. Make your moves less predictable, spreading out your approach.

Defend What You Control

  1. Keep an eye out for sneaky opponents trying to sneak in.
  2. Leave strong stacks behind to hold your ground.

Set Up for Big Plays

  1. Use the center as a launchpad for bigger moves.
  2. Always look for ways to spring a surprise attack.

Remember, in Focus, the middle is where the magic happens!

For more tips, check out my How To Play focus guide and outplay your friends!

## The Final Move: Master Focus Like a Pro!

Well, there you have it, folks. After many nights of heated (and sometimes snack-fueled) battles, my friends and I learned that Focus is all about thinking ahead, splitting stacks at just the right time, and not crying when your biggest stack gets snatched. Use the tips from this How To Play focus guide, watch your rivals sweat, and maybe you’ll leave the table as the big winner! Just don’t gloat too much—no one likes that guy.

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

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.