Hive
How does the Spider's three-step move work, and which pieces can it move around?
The designer explained the rule and its diagram in 2010 and 2005, and it matches the rulebook's Spider text.
- Gen Four Two · Designer · 2010-05-02
- Gen Four Two · Designer · 2005-08-26
- Hive rulebook · Rulebook · Spider
- Penguinised · Community · 2026-03-15
- qswanger · Community · 2010-05-01
The Spider moves exactly three spaces, never backtracking, and at each step it may only move around a piece it is in direct contact with. If it touches only one piece it follows that piece; once a step puts it in contact with a second piece, it may continue around that one instead. It may turn, but it cannot cross to a piece it is not touching, and the rulebook's zig-zag diagram is correct.
“The Spider may only move around pieces that it is in direct contact with on each step of it's movement.”
— Gen Four Two, designer