Ringway 2026

Ringway is a drawless loop-forming game for two players: Black and White. It is played on the squares (cells) of a square board initially occupied by black and white stones in a checkerboard pattern. The game is guaranteed to end with at least one loop of empty cells. The recommended size is 12 cells per side, but boards of 8, 10, 14 and 16 are also valid.

Definitions: A loop is a closed path of empty cells connected orthogonally that surrounds one or more stones. A square is a set of four empty cells forming a 2×2 area.

Turns:Black plays first and then turns alternate. On your turn, move a friendly stone orthogonally or diagonally to an adjacent cell occupied by an enemy stone to capture it by replacement.

If the moved stone is not on the edge, it must touch at least one friendly stone orthogonally after the capture. If the moved stone is on the edge, it must choose the nearest enemy stone, either orthogonally or diagonally, then move in one of those directions to it and capture it by replacement. It may jump over friendly stones.

After the move, there must be no square on the board.

End of the game:The game ends immediately when a loop is formed. The player who forms it wins if their stones is at least half of the stones surrounded by the loop.

—description from the designer