Every move is a jump on a crowded 8x8 board. Make the final capture and leave your opponent stuck.
Konane is a two-player strategy game from Hawaii played with black and white stones. At the start, all 64 squares of an 8x8 board are filled, with the colors alternating like a checkerboard. Every move you make is a jump that captures. There are no other kinds of moves.
That one rule shapes the whole game. You aren’t trying to take the most stones. You’re trying to be the last player who still has a jump available.
Opening the board
Since a full board leaves no room to jump, the game starts by making some space. Black lifts away a stone of its own color, picked from one of the corners or the middle four squares. The game highlights which stones are allowed. White answers by lifting one of its stones that touches the gap. Now the first jump is possible.
How a turn works
Black jumps first. To jump, move a stone over an adjacent enemy stone and land on the empty square directly beyond it. Jumps go only up, down, left or right, never on a diagonal. The stone you jumped over is captured and leaves the board.
If your stone can jump again from where it landed, you can keep going. In this version, it may even switch direction between jumps. Whenever you’d like to stop, press Done jumping. A counter under the board tracks captures for both players.
Should your turn arrive with zero jumps available, the game is over and you lose.
Strategy notes
Think about moves, not captures. Since the game ends when someone runs out of jumps, it’s more important to keep options for yourself than to take a lot of stones.
Long chains aren’t always good. Ending a chain early, in a spot where you’re safe, can be smarter than landing somewhere your opponent can jump right back. Also be careful about opening new lanes. Every jump leaves empty squares behind, and those can give your rival fresh chances.
Stones along the edge are harder to attack, since an attacker can only hop them by moving along the border. Near the end, count the jumps left for each side to figure out who gets the final jump.
About the computer
Easy makes random legal jumps. Medium thinks a single turn ahead, mixing in some randomness. Hard plans as far as three full turns out, weighing the stones on the board and the jumps still open to both players.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove an opening stone | Arrow keys to reach a highlighted stone, Enter to remove it | Click one of the highlighted stones | Tap one of the highlighted stones |
| Jump | Arrow keys and Enter to pick the stone, then the landing square | Click your stone, then the empty square beyond an enemy stone | Tap your stone, then the empty square beyond an enemy stone |
| Stop a jump chain early | — | Click "Done jumping" | Tap "Done jumping" |
| Start a game against the computer | — | Click "vs Computer", pick black or white and a level, then click "New game" | Tap "vs Computer", pick black or white and a level, then tap "New game" |
| Take back a move | — | Click "Undo" | Tap "Undo" |
Konane FAQ
Can I play Konane on a phone or Chromebook?
Yes. On a phone or tablet, tap your stone and then the empty square beyond the enemy you want to jump. On a Chromebook, click the same way, or use the arrow keys with Enter to pick a stone and its landing spot.
Is Konane for one player or two?
Both. Choose "vs Computer," pick black or white and set the level to Easy, Medium or Hard. Or play a friend on the same device, taking turns on one board.
How long does a game take?
Games are fairly quick, since every move removes at least one stone and the board steadily empties. If you need a break, your game in progress is saved, and Undo or Resign are available below the board.
How do I win?
Be the last player able to make a jump. Capturing more stones doesn't decide the game by itself. The moment your opponent is left without a single legal jump, you win.
