Abagio Strategy

The more you play Abagio the more you will discover new and subtle strategies that can help give your frogs the winning edge. Here are a few basic tips and traps that you should keep in mind as you jump into your first game:

Note: To learn the basics of playing Abagio read the Abagio Rules.

Leaping Off to a Good Start

The best starting roll is a “Lover’s Leap” (double fives) on your first turn. But even rolling one five early in the game can be quite a leap of luck as you hit or cap your opponent on the corners.

Get all of your frogs off of the Root Position as soon as possible so that you can play the Top Frog at the end of each turn. Wisely using the protection of the Top Frog is a crucial part of a winning strategy.

Leaping Past

If you spread your frogs too thinly across too many spaces your opponent will have more opportunity to hit or cap them. However, If you stack your frogs up too high on just a couple of spaces you will have fewer leaping options on your next roll.

Whatever you do, don’t just race to your safe zone. You need enough frogs to make a few heaps along the way. (A “heap” is three or more of your frogs stacked directly on top of each other. Your opponent cannot land on your heaps.)

Getting “hit” is not the end of the world

(Except near the end of the game!)

When you have to choose between the lesser of two evils, try to avoid getting your frogs capped. Sometimes it’s better to leave a blot that can be hit and sent back than it is to have a pair of frogs that can be capped by your opponent for a long time.

Watch out for the one spot (the last space before the pond) and the eight spot (the first space of the inner path) – it’s a dangerous place for a blot to be near the end of the game (see the “Beware of Frogs that are Sitting Ducks” section of the Abagio game rules)! It’s best not to expose yourself here (you cannot protect yourself with the top frog) although sometimes you may not be able to avoid it.