Objective: Be the first player to move your pawn to any space on the opposite side of the game board from where you started.

Number of Players: 2 players

Playing Time: Around 10-20 minutes

Components:

• Game board depicting an 8x8 grid with 81 squares

• Two pawn figures (one each for black and white)

• 20 wall pieces (10 for each player)
  

Setup:

1. Choose Your Color: Each player selects a pawn color (black or white) and takes all ten corresponding wall pieces.

2. Starting Positions: Place your pawn in the center space of the first row on your side of the board (black on the bottom row, white on the top row).
   

Gameplay:

The game is played in turns, with players taking turns in clockwise order. Here's what happens on a typical turn:

1. Choose an Action: On your turn, you can choose one of two actions:

   • Move Your Pawn:  Move your pawn one space horizontally, vertically, or diagonally forward (towards your opponent's side of the board). You cannot move backward or onto a space already occupied by a wall.

   • Place a Wall:  Take one of your remaining wall pieces and place it upright between two adjacent squares on the board. The wall must be placed horizontally or vertically, creating a barrier between the two squares.  There are some restrictions on wall placement:

     • Wall Cannot Block Starting Positions:  The first two rows (one for each player) cannot be completely blocked by walls, ensuring pawns can always exit their starting zones.

     • Wall Cannot Completely Isolate an Area:  Wall placement cannot create a section of the board completely cut off from the rest, ensuring pawns always have a path to move around the board.

2. Jumping Over Pawns (Optional Rule):  If you land adjacent to an opponent's pawn that is not blocked by a wall in the direction you want to move, you can optionally jump over the pawn (as long as the space behind the pawn is clear).  This advances your pawn one additional space forward.  This rule is optional, and you can choose not to jump if strategically beneficial.

3. Out of Walls:  The first player to use up all ten of their wall pieces cannot place any more walls during the game.  However, they can still move their pawn and attempt to jump over opponent's pawns to reach the goal.
   

Winning the Game:

The first player to move their pawn to any space on the opposite side of the board from their starting position wins the game.

Additional Notes:

• Four-Player Variant:  The game can be played with four players using all four sides of the board and five wall pieces per player. Each player aims to reach the opposite side of the board they are facing.

• House Rules:  Some variations allow players to steal walls from each other by jumping over them with their pawn, adding another layer of strategy.  Always discuss and agree on any house rules before playing.

• Quick and Strategic:  Quoridor offers a simple yet strategic gameplay experience that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. With its combination of pawn movement and wall placement, you'll need to plan your moves carefully and anticipate your opponent's actions to reach the other side first.