Two colors, one shared board

Play a diamond game
for two.

A two-player match is the simplest way to learn DIAMONDGAME. Red and blue each have ten pieces, and each player races toward the opposite home of the same color. You can play against a friend beside you or use the computer as your opponent.

How to start a two-player match

1. Open the game and keep “2 players” selected.
2. Choose Human for red. For blue, choose Human to share one device, or Computer to play solo.
3. Choose your timer. Off is useful for learning; 30 or 60 seconds adds a little pressure once you know the grid.
4. Choose the undo allowance, then press Start game.

What makes this layout different?

In this edition, red starts at the bottom and heads to the top. Blue starts at the upper left and heads to the lower right. Their paths cross around the center rather than following exactly the same line in opposite directions. The two unused corner triangles are green, so they are easy to distinguish from the active homes.

You can move through an unused triangle. It is still part of the board, but it is not your destination. A detour there is worthwhile only if it creates a useful jump route back toward your own home.

Sharing a phone or tablet

The current game uses local turns. When the heading changes color, hand the device to the next player. The game does not hide information: both players can see every piece, which is part of the strategy. On a larger landscape screen, the board appears beside the turn information.

Keep both sides moving

Early in a match, look for a jump that frees a piece from the back of your starting triangle. With only two colors, the center may have fewer bridges than a three-player match. Create a route using your own pieces instead of relying entirely on the opponent’s formation.

After each move, ask two questions: did this piece get closer to home, and did it help another piece move? A step that creates a bridge for several following pieces can be more productive than pushing only the leader ahead.

Finishing cleanly

As pieces reach the target, use the deeper holes before crowding the entrance. The final piece often needs a clear route through the center and into the triangle. Leave a bridge available rather than packing every piece tightly into the nearest holes.

For the full movement rules, read How to play. For a more crowded board, explore the three-player guide.