How To Play: Focus

Overview

If you ever watched your friends look smug after stomping you at Focus, this guide is for you. I’ve spent way too many evenings stacking, blocking, and plotting my revenge. Here, you’ll find a quick outline of the rules and the sneakiest strategies I’ve picked up for winning at Focus. If you want to know the real How To Play focus, keep reading—and prepare to crush your pals!

What’s in the box

• 1 game board
• 18 black pieces
• 18 white pieces
• 1 rulebook

How To Play Focus: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Gather 2-4 players and set the Focus board on the table.
2. Each player picks a color and takes all matching pieces.
3. Place your pieces on the board, filling your color’s starting zones as the manual shows.
4. Decide who goes first. We always choose who last lost their keys (usually me).

Gameplay

1. On your turn, pick one stack where your color is on top.
2. Move it in a straight line, as many spaces as there are pieces in the stack.
3. You can pick up more than one piece and move the whole stack together.
4. Land your stack on another and combine them. Only the color on top controls the stack.
5. If a stack grows over five pieces, remove extras (starting from the bottom) and keep any of your own pieces. Opponents’ pieces go out of the game.

Winning

1. Keep playing until no legal moves are left for anyone.
2. The last player able to move is the winner.
3. In our group, the winner must do a silly victory lap around the table, but that’s not official.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. You can only move stacks with your color on top.
2. If you collect your own piece by over-stacking, you can use it to enter back onto the board on a future turn.
3. Stacks with five or fewer can stay on the board. Over five? Chop-chop, pieces go out!
4. No diagonal moves. Trust me, I tried. It didn’t go well.

Follow these rules, and soon you’ll be a Focus champ—or at least confused in a fun new way! For more tips, check out our How To Play focus guides.

Best Focus Strategies

Stack Your Way to Victory: Mastering Piece Stacking Tactics

Start Small, End Tall

At first, go for smaller stacks. These give you flexibility and don’t scare off your opponents too soon.

1. Stack only when it puts you in a better position than your rival.
2. Don’t build a tall stack unless you control the area.

Wait for the Perfect Moment

Sometimes waiting pays off. I noticed my wildest victories came from patient stacking.

1. Hold back and stack when rivals are distracted.
2. React quickly to their mistakes and build your own tower.

Hide Your Intentions

Your friends watch like hawks. Never show your true plan.

1. Stack in less obvious spots.
2. Mix small and medium stacks to confuse everyone.

For a real boost, always keep the How To Play focus in mind. Don’t let opponents predict your next stack!

Mastering the Middle: Control of Central Spaces

Why the Center Matters

If you want to win at Focus, play for the center. The middle lets you influence the entire board. Plus, opponents hate when you block their best moves! I once camped out in the middle and my friends still complain about it.

Central Domination Tips

1. Move your pieces early to central spots for maximum flexibility.
2. Stack high in the center, but leave options to branch out.
3. React to opponents by blocking their paths through the middle.
4. Watch for sneaky side attacks—don’t ignore your flanks!

How To Play focus—Central Control

Always remember: center control in Focus is key. If you forget, someone else will take advantage and you’ll be left on the sidelines, watching the action. Don’t let that happen! Use these How To Play focus tricks and thank me later.

Snatching Victory: Mastering Capturing and Blocking Moves

Predict Your Opponent’s Moves

If you want the upper hand, always watch your friends like a hawk. Try these tactics:

1. Count their pieces and see what they need.
2. Block their likely next play before they go for it.
3. Fake interest in one area, then strike somewhere else.

Perfect Your Blocking Timing

It’s not just about blocking, it’s about when you block. Timing can make you a hero or a goat.

1. Block when your opponent is one move from winning.
2. Spread your pieces so you can block two threats at once.

Turn Defense into Offense

How To Play focus means never just sitting around. Every block can set up your next big capture. Think a few steps ahead, and you’ll win more than just bragging rights at game night!

Stack, Block, and Laugh Your Way to Victory

Well, that’s a wrap on my Focus strategy secrets. My friends still won’t let me forget that time I lost to a stack of my own pieces (don’t ask). Keep your eyes peeled for sneaky moves, and remember the How To Play focus—practice makes perfect. With a bit of luck and these tips, you’ll soon be the stack master at any table. Go crush those stacks, champ!

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