Overview

DVONN is a two-player abstract strategy game and the fourth game in the GIPF Project. Players place pieces on a board, then stack them to control territory. The key mechanic is maintaining connection to the three red DVONN pieces: any pieces or stacks that lose contact with all DVONN pieces are immediately removed. The player controlling the most pieces at the end wins.

Components

• 1 game board (elongated hexagonal, 49 spaces)
• 23 white pieces
• 23 black pieces
• 3 red DVONN pieces
• 1 bag
• 1 rulebook

Setup

1. Draw lots to determine who starts. The starting player takes 2 DVONN pieces and 23 white pieces. The other player takes 1 DVONN piece and 23 black pieces.
2. Place the board horizontally between players so each has 9 intersections on their side.
3. The board starts empty.

Tip: Place pieces with the “hollow” side up for easier handling.

Turn Structure

The game has two distinct phases:

Phase 1: Placing Pieces

Players alternate placing one piece at a time on any vacant space. The placement order is strictly:

1. White: 1st DVONN piece
2. Black: 2nd DVONN piece
3. White: 3rd DVONN piece
4. Black: 1st black piece
5. White: 1st white piece
6. Continue alternating…

When all 49 pieces are placed (all spaces occupied), Phase 1 ends.

Phase 2: Stacking Pieces

Important: The player who started Phase 1 (White) also starts Phase 2. After White places the last piece in Phase 1, White immediately takes the first move in Phase 2.

Players alternate turns moving pieces/stacks.

Actions

Moving (Phase 2)

• You may only move a piece or stack whose topmost piece is your color.
• Single piece: Moves exactly 1 space in any direction onto an occupied space (it cannot land on an empty space).
• Stack: Moves as a whole. A stack of N pieces must move exactly N spaces in a straight line. May pass over empty spaces, but must land on an occupied space.
• A piece or stack surrounded on all 6 sides cannot be moved.
• A single DVONN piece (red) cannot be moved on its own, but a stack containing a DVONN piece can be moved by whoever controls it (owns the top piece).
• You may not pass unless you have no legal moves.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Losing Pieces (Disconnection)

• All pieces and stacks must maintain a link (direct or through a chain of adjacent pieces/stacks) to at least one DVONN piece.
• After any move, all pieces/stacks not connected to any DVONN piece are immediately removed from the game.
• A single move can cause a chain reaction removing many pieces at once.
• It does not matter who made the disconnecting move.
• All 3 DVONN pieces remain in play until the end, even if isolated (they are always in contact with themselves).

End of Game

• Players must continue making moves as long as they can.
• If one player cannot move, the other continues until no moves remain.
• If a player who previously passed regains a legal move (e.g., a blocked piece becomes unblocked), they must resume playing.
• When no more moves are possible, each player stacks all their controlled stacks on top of each other. The player with the tallest stack (most pieces) wins.
• If stacks are equal height, the game is a tie.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• At the start of Phase 2, only edge pieces can move (interior pieces are completely surrounded).
• The higher a stack grows, the farther it must move, making it potentially harder to control.
• You can be forced to make a move that isolates your own stacks if you have no other option.
• Count pieces carefully in close games; manufacturing variations can make piece thickness slightly uneven.

Player Reference

Phase 1 (Placement):

• DVONN pieces placed first (White, Black, White)
• Then alternate own-color pieces
• All 49 spaces filled

Phase 2 (Stacking):

• White moves first
• Single piece: move 1 space
• Stack of N: move exactly N spaces in a straight line
• Must land on occupied space
• Cannot pass over nothing; can pass over empty spaces
• Surrounded pieces/stacks cannot move

Key Rules:

• Disconnected pieces removed instantly
• DVONN pieces always stay in play
• Cannot voluntarily pass if a legal move exists
• Winner = most pieces controlled at end