Quarto rules

🎯 Game Objective

Objective: Be the first to align 4 pieces sharing at least one common characteristic in a row, column, or diagonal.

Unique twist: Your opponent chooses the piece you must play!

🎲 The Pieces

The game includes 16 unique pieces, each having 4 characteristics that can take 2 values:

🔺 Size

Tall or Short

🎨 Color

Light or Dark

📐 Shape

Round or Square

🕳️ Fill

Solid or Hollow

Piece Examples

Short Light Round Hollow

Tall Dark Square Solid

Short Dark Round Solid

Tall Light Square Hollow

📋 Game Rules

Setup

The game board is empty at the start. The 16 pieces are placed next to the board. One player is chosen to begin.

Piece Selection

The active player chooses a piece from those available and gives it to their opponent. This piece must be played on the next turn.

Piece Placement

The opponent must place the received piece on an empty square of the game board.

Victory Check

After each placement, check if there is an alignment of 4 pieces sharing at least one common characteristic.

Player Switch

If no victory is declared, the player who just placed a piece becomes the active player and selects a piece for their opponent.

🏆 Victory Conditions

A player wins by creating an alignment of 4 pieces (row, column, or diagonal) sharing at least one common characteristic:

Examples of winning alignments:

4 tall pieces (regardless of their color, shape, or fill)
4 round pieces (regardless of their size, color, or fill)
4 light pieces (regardless of their size, shape, or fill)
4 hollow pieces (regardless of their size, color, or shape)

Winning Board Example

↑ Quarto! All 4 pieces in the first row are TALL

💡 Strategies and Tips

                🎯 Tips for Beginners
                Observe carefully the board before giving a piece to your opponent
Avoid giving a piece that would allow your opponent to win
Think several moves ahead and anticipate your opponent's possibilities
Create multiple threats by placing pieces that open several possibilities

            

                ⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid
                Don't focus only on your own alignments
Don't forget to check the diagonals
Watch out for the multiple characteristics of a single piece

            

🎮 End of Game

The game ends in one of the following cases:

Victory: A player creates an alignment of 4 pieces sharing a common characteristic
Draw: All pieces are placed without any alignment being achieved

Important note: The player who places the winning piece wins the game, even if their opponent gave them that piece!