Blokus

Blokus rules — frequently asked questions

Can my piece touch an opponent's piece along an edge?

Yes — the edge restriction applies only to your own color. Snuggling flat against opponents' pieces is legal and is exactly how you block them.

Can pieces be flipped over, not just rotated?

Yes. Every piece may be rotated and mirror-flipped freely before placement. Both sides are legal.

Does my new piece need corner contact with all my pieces or just one?

Just one. It must touch at least one of your existing pieces diagonally at a corner, and must not share an edge with any of your pieces.

What if I can't place a piece?

You pass, and you're done placing for the game — the remaining players continue until nobody can move. Getting locked out early is the main thing to defend against.

Can I pass strategically even though I have a legal move?

No. If you can place a piece, you must. Passing is only for players with no legal placement.

How does scoring work exactly?

Count the squares in your unplaced pieces: each is −1. If you placed all 21 pieces you instead score +15, plus another +5 if your final placement was the single-square piece (+20 total bonus).

How do 2 players play on the 4-color board?

Each player runs two colors — traditionally blue and red versus yellow and green — placed in the normal rotation from their two corners. Add both colors together for your final score.

How does a 3-player game handle the fourth color?

The extra color is shared: players take turns making its placements in rotation. It scores on its own (nobody wins with it); it mostly exists to keep the board symmetrical and add blocking chaos.

Do the first pieces have to be in the exact corner?

Yes — each player's first piece must cover their corner square of the board. From there your network grows diagonally.

Is there any way to remove or move a placed piece?

No. Placements are permanent, there's no capturing, and misplaced pieces should be caught before the next player moves.