Official Quarto Rules

Last Updated on August 18, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Quarto is a strategic abstract board game with simple rules and surprising depth. It’s simple to learn and easy to play! Here’s a breakdown of the rules:

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How to Play Quarto

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Components

• Game board with 16 squares (4×4 grid).
• 16 unique pieces, each with four characteristics:
  • Color: Light or Dark
  • Shape: Round or Square
  • Height: Tall or Short
  • Top: Solid or Hollow

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Setup

• Place the game board in the center.
• Arrange all 16 pieces at the side of the board for easy access.

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Objective

The goal is to create a line of four pieces on the board that share at least one common characteristic.

• Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
• Common characteristics include color, shape, height, or top (solid/hollow).

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Gameplay

1. Players roll dice to decide who goes first.
2. The first player selects any piece from the 16 and hands it to their opponent.
3. The opponent places that piece on any empty square on the board.
4. The opponent then selects one remaining piece and gives it to the first player.
5. Play continues in this manner: each player places the piece received, then chooses a piece for the opponent.

Note: Players never choose a piece for themselves—they always select for the opponent.

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Winning the Game

• A player wins by creating a line of four pieces that share at least one common feature and calling “QUARTO!” when placing the piece.
• The line can consist of:
  • Four light or four dark pieces
  • Four round or four square pieces
  • Four tall or four short pieces
  • Four solid or four hollow pieces

Important rules:

• The winning player does not need to have placed all the pieces in the line.
• If a player fails to notice a completed line and passes a piece to the opponent, the opponent may immediately call “QUARTO!” and claim the win.
• If neither player notices the alignment when it occurs, the game continues and the line is no longer valid.

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End of the Game

• Winner: The player who successfully calls and identifies a “QUARTO!”
• Draw: If all pieces are placed without anyone calling a QUARTO, the game ends in a tie.

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Quarto FAQ

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Variations

Beginner Variation:

• Play using 1–3 characteristics instead of all four.
• Example: Only match color to form a line of four pieces.

Advanced Variation:

• This allows for nine additional ways to declare “QUARTO!” beyond the standard line formation.
• Players can aim to form a line or a square of four pieces sharing at least one common characteristic.

Make sure to check out Quoridor, which is a similar game made by the same people behind Quarto!