Diaballik

Diaballik is an abstract strategy board game designed by Philippe Lefrancois that simulates, in miniature, a team sport where two sides try to carry a ball across the opposing team's goal line. Each of two players controls seven pieces on a seven by seven grid, one of which starts holding the ball, and a turn allows up to three actions split between two piece moves and one pass of the ball between friendly pieces. Movement is restricted to horizontal and vertical steps, so reaching a diagonal square takes two moves, which forces players to balance advancing their ball carrier toward the opponent's goal against keeping enough pieces back to block a counterattack. A distinguishing anti game rule keeps a cautious player from simply lining every piece across a single row to build an unbreakable wall: if an opponent manages to place three or more pieces adjacent to such a solid defensive line, that opponent wins outright, which pushes both sides toward active play rather than pure stalling. A full game plays quickly, with setup taking well under a minute and a typical match lasting around twenty minutes, aimed at players eight and older.