Clobber Strategy: 5 Tips

Clobber is pure mobility. Rules first? See how to play.

1. Moves, not material

Capturing is automatic; what counts is how many moves remain for each side. A clobber that removes two of your own future moves is a bad trade.

2. Stay mixed

Your stones only move when enemies are next to them. Keep your stones among the opponent's rather than clearing an area, which kills your own mobility.

3. Break the board

As gaps appear the board splits into regions. Fight for regions where you have the last move, and leave regions you have lost alone: moving there wastes a tempo.

4. Singletons

A stone with exactly one enemy neighbour has one move that also removes the enemy's move onto it. Decide who benefits before taking it.

5. Count the endgame

With few moves left, count exactly: if the remaining independent regions give you an odd number of spare moves, you win the parity battle.

The hard computer searches five plies (nine when few moves remain) on mobility; normal three; easy plays at random.

Last updated 2026-10-21