One set of instructions (I hope you’re reading them right now!)
Objective
Eliminate all but three of your opponent’s pieces.
Pieces are eliminated when they are either surrounded on four or more sides by the opponent’s pieces, or if they are completely smothered against a board edge. The first player to have only three pieces left in play loses.
Be lazy! Watch the video!
Starting the Game
You’ll notice the 18 game pieces are in groups of 3. Each player takes three such groups to create a team of 9 pieces total (18 divided by 9 equals 2 teams! Get it?) Teams are typically ‘Clears’ and ‘Solids’, but it’s really whatever you prefer. Place the game board between the two players so one “Cequis” logo on the board can be read normally, and the other will appear to be upside down.
Each player places their team of pieces inside the hexagons any way they like within a two hexagon depth from the board edge closest to them. You’re now ready to begin!
Piece Movement
During a turn, a player can 1) move a single piece, 2) move a group of pieces, or 3) create a sequence. Only one of those three actions can be performed per turn so choose wisely! Two pieces can never occupy the same hexagon.
A group of pieces are two or three pieces of the same colour and team, which are on adjacent hexagons. The creation and destruction of groups is an automatic process and goes like this:
If a blue piece moves adjacent to another blue piece, they’re a group of two.
If a third blue piece moves adjacent to any of those two blue pieces, they’re a group of three.
If a blue piece is moved away from the other two, then they become a group of two, and one single piece, once again.
Like this, groups can be created and separated as needed.
Movement
There are two types of regular piece movement. You can either move a single piece, or an entire group of pieces. Pieces can move one hexagon in any direction, so long as the destination is vacant.
1) Single Piece Movement: Simply move one of your pieces to an adjacent hexagon in any direction. By moving a single piece, a player can create groups, separate groups, or change the shape of a group.
2) Group Movement: "All or one and one or all!" is the group motto. A player can either move a single piece in a group, or move the entire group. In other words, you can’t move just two pieces in a three piece group!
To move a group, simply move all members of the group one adjacent hexagon in the same direction. In other words, if you move one piece up one hexagon, you must move all other pieces up one hexagon as well if you wish to move the group.
3) Creating a Sequence:
This is where things get exciting (also known as “a little more complicated”). Creating a sequence is the ability to use one of your game pieces to move another game piece. Your game piece must be part of a group (of two or of three) in order for it to be able to create a sequence. You can sequence both your own, and your opponen't pieces.
It works like this:
If there’s a hexagon adjacent to one of your groups that is occupied by another piece, put your finger on one of your group pieces and move it to that occupied hexagon. You’ll notice that the other piece was pushed back one hexagon as well, resulting in a sequence. That’s all there is to it! Well, the basics of it anyways. Here’s what else to consider:
Rules for Sequencing: A) The group that begins the sequence must stay together and be a group of the same number before and after the sequence is completed.
B) Only one piece of a group can start a sequence (the others act as anchors to "help push") and only one piece of another group can be sequenced.
C) Sequences ALWAYS happen in a straight line.
D) The hexagon at the end of that straight line must be vacant to allow room for the piece being sequenced.
Play a couple games with the rules thus far to get comfortable. It will help with the next part, which gets even more exciting!
Creating a Compound Sequence
A compound sequence allows you to use multiple groups in a sequence, thus allowing you to sequence more pieces. The main rule change to remember is this; you must use greater or equal force to move pieces. That is to say, one group can’t sequence two pieces, but two groups can be used to sequence two (or one!) pieces.
Thankfully, the rules for creating a compound sequence are very similar to those of a regular sequence.
A) All your groups helping in the compound sequence must stay together and remain a group of the same number before and after the sequence.
B) Only one piece of every group involved in the compound sequence can be moved (the others act as anchors to "help push"). This means, for example, that you can’t sequence two white pieces which belong to the same group.
C) Compound sequences ALWAYS happen in a straight line.
D) The hexagon at the end of that straight line must be vacant to allow room for the end piece of the compound sequence.
Once again, you can sequence both your opponent’s and your own pieces, or even both in the same compound sequence! How to tell if your groups are participating in a compound sequence is easy. If they're a group of the same number before and after the compound sequence, they’re helping (positive). If they’re a single piece or part of a group which will be separated after the compound sequence, they’re not helping (negative).
How to tell if you have enough force to execute a compound sequence comes down to simple math. Determine the straight line that the compound sequence will take. From the start of the line, for each of your pieces helping in the compound sequence (positive), add one. For each piece not helping (negative), subtract one. If at any time from the first to last piece in that line your math drops below zero, that compound sequence cannot be executed.
Have fun playing Cequis!
Some Examples:
(Just take it one number at a time)
Teams: Solids and Circles. Each team is made of three groups: White, Grey, and Black.
This Circle Black piece is eliminated from the board since it’s surrounded by four Solid pieces (Two Solid Grey, one Solid White, and one Solid Black).
By moving Circle Grey here, Solid White and Solid Grey are eliminated by being smothered on the board edge.
Demonstrates a simple Sequence. The Solid Black is a group of 3 before and after the Sequence.
Demonstrates a Compound Sequence where Solid Black and Solid White are Sequencing Circle Black and Circle Grey. By using the math method, see that the total never drops below zero.
Three Player