Playing guide
These options and rules describe the current JoyPip version. Choose a mode above before starting; rules are also available during play.
Step-by-step examples
Select a step to see what changes. These are partial examples, not full starting positions.
Practice options
- Players
- 2 players · 3 players · 4 players · 6 players
- Bot skill
- Beginner · Normal · Smart · Expert
Private room options
- Players
- 2 players · 3 players · 4 players · 6 players
- Time per move
- 15 seconds · 30 seconds · 60 seconds
Detailed rules and controls
Players and corners
- 2 players: two opposite corners
- 3 players: every other corner, so all target corners start empty
- 4 players: two pairs of opposite corners; the other two stay empty
- 6 players: all six corners
- Whatever the player count, your home corner is turned to the bottom of the screen and your target is at the top
Rules
- Each jump goes over exactly one adjacent piece, never over an empty hole or two pieces in a row
- A chain of jumps may pass outside your target corner, but a piece already in it must end its move inside
- A player with no legal move is skipped automatically
- Ranking: finished players by finishing order; the rest by remaining distance (the fewest steps each piece still needs to enter the target corner, added up)
Controls
- Tap one of your pieces and its reachable holes light up: dots are steps, rings are jump landings. Tap a landing and the piece follows its jump route
- Tap the selected piece or an empty spot to deselect; offline games allow undo
- Pinch or use the mouse wheel to zoom the board, then drag to look around; the buttons at the top right of the board also zoom in, zoom out and reset
- Keyboard: arrow keys move the cursor, Enter or Space selects and moves, Esc cancels the selection
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a step and then jump in the same turn?
Your piece has an opponent's piece right in front of it with an empty hole behind, and further on another of your pieces with an empty hole: in one turn you can jump the opponent's piece, then your own, two jumps in a row. You can't step first and then jump, though: a turn is either one step or jumps.
Do I need a download or a linked email?
Play directly in your browser without a download. Linking email is an optional way to recover your account. Before clearing browser data, consider whether you need to keep your account or local records.
Do matches earn or spend coins?
Earn coins by checking in and spend them on cosmetics. Matches never cost or award coins.