Overview

Abande is an abstract strategy game for two players on a hexagonal board. Players alternate entering new pieces onto the board or moving existing pieces to capture opponent pieces by stacking on top of them. All pieces on the board must remain connected in a single group (the “band”). At game end, players score points based on pieces and stacks they control. The highest score wins.

Components

• 1 hexagonal board with 37 spaces (intersections)
• 18 white stackable pieces
• 18 black stackable pieces

Setup

The board starts empty. Each player places their 18 pieces in front of them (“pieces in hand”). Black goes first.

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns. On your turn, you must do one of the following:

1. Enter a new piece from your hand onto the board, OR
2. Move a piece or stack you control on the board (capturing an opponent), OR
3. Pass (only if you have no pieces in hand)

Actions

Entering a New Piece

• Place one piece from your hand onto an empty space on the board.
• The new piece must be adjacent to at least one piece or stack already on the board.
• The board must remain a single connected group after placement.
• You must enter a piece if you have pieces in hand and cannot or choose not to move.

Moving a Piece or Stack

• Move one piece or one complete stack you control one space in any of the 6 hex directions.
• Capturing is mandatory when moving: You can only move onto a space occupied by an opponent piece or stack (not onto empty spaces or friendly pieces).
• The moved piece/stack goes on top, forming a new stack. The topmost piece determines the stack’s owner.
• Stack height limit: Maximum 3 pieces high. Cannot move onto a stack that would exceed 3.
• Stacks cannot be split.
• Restriction: Moving is not allowed until Black has entered a second piece (Black cannot immediately capture White’s first reply).

Passing

• You may pass only if you have no more pieces in hand.
• You do not lose the right to move on a subsequent turn.
• If both players pass consecutively, the game ends.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Game End

The game ends when both players pass consecutively.

Removing Sleeping Pieces

Before scoring, remove all pieces and stacks that have no connection to any opponent piece. (Pieces within mixed stacks do not count as connected.)

Scoring

| Piece/Stack | Points | |————-|——–| | Single piece of your color | 1 point | | Double stack you control (your piece on top) | 2 points | | Triple stack you control (your piece on top) | 3 points |

The player with the higher score wins. Equal scores result in a draw.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• The Band rule: At all times, every piece and stack on the board must form one single connected group. Any move or placement that would break connectivity is illegal.
• The band can include forks and branching networks – it does not have to be a simple chain.
• Black’s first move is the “initiative” – placing the very first piece on any space. White then replies. Black cannot capture until after entering a second piece.
• Sleeping pieces (those with no path to any opponent piece) are removed before scoring. This removal may split the band, which is acceptable only at game end.
• Control of a stack is determined solely by the topmost piece.

Player Reference

Detail	Value
Players	2
Pieces per player	18
Board	Hexagonal, 37 spaces
Max stack height	3
Scoring	1/2/3 points for single/double/triple
Win condition	Highest score after removing sleeping pieces
First player	Black