Corners — Strategy

Leaving home: order and deadline

The deadline

All pieces must leave home within 40 moves (30 with diagonals). A piece left at home after the deadline loses the game. A counter above the board shows the move number and how many pieces each side still has at home. Start moving the last pieces out early: a few moves before the deadline there may be nothing left to let them out.

Which piece goes first

The pieces at the front edge of the home usually leave first: they reach open space at once and become bridges for the others. The pieces at the back then leave by jumping over those bridges. If the back pieces go first, the front ones are left without rungs and have to walk.

Don't lock yourself in

Don't arrange your pieces so that the last one in the corner of the home cannot get out: it needs an empty square next to it or a piece to jump over to the outside. In the classic game the opponent cannot lock it in, but you can do it yourself.

Coming back after the deadline

After the deadline a move into your own home loses the game. The table asks before making it. Jumping through your home and landing outside is allowed.