The Game of Quoridor
Quoridor: not just "For Kids"
Quoridor - A Strategy Game For All Ages
Quoridor is a strategy game in which you try to get your playing piece across the board. But a series of walls, quite similar to a maze, set up by you and your opponents as the game progresses, makes your journey tougher!
I purchased Quoridor for Kids a few years ago. My family has really enjoyed playing it!
But whether you pick Quoridor for Kids or the Classic version, the rules are the same. Which theme do you prefer? Mice or pawns?
I love the mouse and cheese theme!
Quoridor has easy to learn rules
The rules are easy and few in number, which means you don't have to spend a long time learning the game before you can began playing it. I see this as a definite plus, as we also own games that take 15 minutes or longer just to learn the rules, and even then people aren't always clear on them. I always enjoy games more if I'm clear on what the rules are!
In spite of the game's cuteness, there's strategy involved!
The Strategy of Quoridor
It's fun experimenting with different strategies! What's the best way to get your piece across the board, while blocking your opponent at the same time? That's the tricky part, as you don't want whatever wall pieces you set up to block your own mouse or pawn too! As in all good strategy games, it's important to try to predict what your opponent may do. If you move your playing piece one space to the right, is he likely to cut off your passage with a wall? Will that then trap you, making you have to go the long way around?
How To Play
The Basics: The object of the game is to get your piece from one side of the board to the other. As you go, you set up walls, creating a maze-like labyrinth. On each turn, you may either place a wall piece at a location of your choosing, or move your piece one spot, either left, right, forward, or backward.
Since you must pass through the twisting streets of the labyrinth yourself in order to reach the other side and win the game, the strategy comes in as you try to decide the best location of walls so that they block your opponents, but not yourself! Also, on any given turn, is it better to move your own piece, or set up a wall? What happens if you concentrate on moving your piece full speed ahead, instead of setting up walls? Or if you spend more time at the beginning setting up walls instead of than moving your piece? Can you predict what your opponents will do if you place a wall piece here or there? The more you play, the better your strategy gets!
The video below is of the classic version of the game, but the same rules apply to the kids version of the game.
This video sums up the rules of Quoridor quite well!
Have you ever played Quoridor before?
Which way should I move next? What will my opponent do on his turn? Will he block me, or move his own piece?
Quoridor For Kids
The theme of the kids version of Quoridor is mice and cheese.
Each player has one mouse, and places it on the board in front of themselves. The piece of cheese is placed on the opposite side of the board. The hungry mice must reach their own piece of cheese to win the game. But, just like in the classic version of the game, in order to get across the board, the mice must plass through a labyrinth that the players build throughout the game. This may sound very kid-like, but there's a lot more strategy involved than first meets the eye! This game is not just for kids! In fact, my youngest was already a teen when we bought this game. The adults in my house are fond of the game as well!
Quoridor
Would you prefer a more adult looking version?
There is also a Quoridor Classic version of the game. It's basically the same game, but without the mice and cheese theme. It has pawns that more closely resemble people. The board does seem quite a bit more grown up, but other than that, it's the same game!
If you're looking for a game your children will enjoy and learn from, as well as one you can enjoy with another adult (no kids required!), consider Quoridor for Kids, or Gigamic Classic Quoridor.
Which game do you like better?
Quoridor is never the same game twice!
The maze is different with every game...and in fact, with almost every turn too.
Each time you play Quoridor, the board ends up being different. That's because each person has an option as to whether or not to place a wall piece, and if so, where to place it, every turn.
Your mouse may be heading down one pathway, only to be suddenly blocked and have to retreat. Your only option may be to go the long way around. But that's okay, because just think what you can do to get even...
© 2013 JanieceTobey
