Four Field Kono Strategy: 5 Tips
Kono is about pairs. Rules first? See how to play.
1. Keep launch pads
You can only capture by jumping over a friend. A lone piece is harmless; a pair in line with an enemy is a threat. Move so that your pieces stay adjacent.
2. Break their pairs
When the opponent lines up two pieces with yours beyond, either move the target away or capture one of the pair first.
3. Trade when ahead
With more pieces than the opponent, even exchanges bring you closer to the finish: they lose when they reach one piece. Behind, avoid trades and look for a double threat.
4. The edges are safe from one side
A piece on the edge cannot be jumped from outside the board, so it can only be attacked along the edge or from the interior. Use edges to shelter a weak piece.
5. Mind the clock
Forty moves without a capture draws the game. If you are ahead, force exchanges before the counter runs out.
The hard computer searches seven plies (nine in the endgame) on material and mobility; normal three; easy plays at random.
Frequently asked questions
What is the key idea in Four Field Kono?
Every capture needs two of your pieces in a line with an enemy beyond. Keep your pieces adjacent to each other in lines pointing at the enemy, and break up the opponent's pairs so they cannot do the same.
Last updated 2026-10-21