Breakthrough (board game)

The board is initially set up as shown on the first diagram. To play the game on a different-sized board, just fill the two front and two back rows with pieces; the board does not have to be square.^[1]

Choose a player to go first; then play alternates, with each player moving one piece per turn.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

A piece may move one space straight or diagonally forward if the target square is empty. In the second diagram, the white piece on c5 can move into any of the marked squares.

A piece may move into a square containing an opponent's piece if and only if that square is one step diagonally forward. The opponent's piece is removed and the player's piece replaces it. For example, the black piece can capture either the white piece on e2 or the one on g2; it would replace them if it captured. Note that capturing is not compulsory, nor is it "chained" as in checkers; a player can only capture one piece in a turn.

The first player to reach the opponent's home row — the one furthest from the player — is the winner.^[1] If all the pieces of a player are captured, that player loses. A draw is impossible^[2] because pieces can only move ahead (or be captured), and the piece closest to the opponent's home row always has at least one forward diagonal move available.