Hive
58 questions players ask about Hive. Pick one for the answer. See also the full rulebook.
Updated 2026-11-06.
Playing the Game
- By which turn must I place my Queen Bee, and does my first piece count as a turn?
- Can I move a piece before my Queen Bee has been placed?
- Can I place my Queen Bee as my very first piece?
- Does white always place the first piece in Hive?
- Can I place a new piece next to one of my opponent's pieces?
- Can I place a new piece into a hole that is surrounded and that it could not slide into?
- Can I place a Beetle directly on top of the Hive or on another piece?
- Whose colour is a stack for placing new pieces, for example a Beetle sitting on an opposing piece or Queen?
- Can I both place a piece and move a piece in the same turn?
- Do I have to place all my pieces before I can start moving them?
The Creatures
- How does the Beetle move, and can it go up, down or stay on the same level?
- Can a Beetle climb onto a stack of any height, including straight from the ground?
- Can a Beetle move on top of any piece, including my own pieces and the opponent's Queen Bee?
- Can a piece with a Beetle on top of it move, and can I free it with another Beetle?
- Can a Beetle slide between two stacked pieces, into a hole it cannot slide into, or climb up and down in one move?
- Can a Beetle or Grasshopper that is surrounded on all sides still move?
- How exactly does the Grasshopper jump, and is there a distance limit?
- Do Beetles or tall stacks block a Grasshopper's jump?
- Are Grasshoppers restricted by gates or the Freedom to Move rule?
- How does the Spider's three-step move work, and which pieces can it move around?
Restrictions
- How does the One Hive rule work, and how do I check whether a move breaks it?
- Does the One Hive rule apply during a move, or only to the position at the end?
- Can a piece move across a gap in the Hive, or to a space next to pieces it was not touching?
- What does Freedom to Move mean, and can a piece move into or out of a space surrounded on several sides?
- Are Beetles and Ladybugs restricted by gates formed by stacks on top of the Hive?
- What is a gate, and when does it block a Beetle?
The End of the Game
- What counts as surrounding the Queen Bee, and do the surrounding pieces have to be one colour?
- Can a Queen Bee covered by a Beetle (mine or my opponent's) still be surrounded and lose?
- What happens if one move surrounds both Queen Bees at once?
- Is it legal to make a move that surrounds my own Queen Bee?
- Does it count if a Spider or other piece surrounds the Queen only part-way through its move?
- Is there a draw by repetition in Hive?
- Can I use a Pillbug to move my Queen out after my opponent has completed the surround?
Hive: The PillbugExpansion
- How does the Pillbug's special ability work, and which pieces and spaces can it use?
- Which pieces can a Pillbug not move with its special ability?
- Can a piece that was just moved be moved again on the next turn, by a Pillbug or a Mosquito?
- If a Pillbug uses its special ability, can the opponent's Pillbug then move it?
- Can a Pillbug that was moved by the opponent's Pillbug move or use its ability on its next turn?
- Can a Pillbug move a piece through a narrow gap formed by stacked pieces?
- Can a Pillbug move a piece that is surrounded, such as a Queen Bee in a tight spot?
- Can a Pillbug that cannot slide anywhere still use its special ability?
Hive: The MosquitoExpansion
- How does a Mosquito get its movement, and can it copy the opponent's pieces or a Queen?
- Can a Mosquito move if the only piece it touches is another Mosquito?
- Does a Mosquito on top of the Hive keep moving like a Beetle, and can it copy pieces beneath it?
- Can a Mosquito copy a Pillbug's special ability, even if that Pillbug was just moved or is immobile?