Blockade

About this board game

Blockade is a two-player strategy game for a 20-minute contest of pawn movement and wall placement, released in 1975.

Each player has two pawns, nine green walls, and nine blue walls. Pawns begin on their matching-color starting areas: 4×4 squares positioned in each of the four corners of the 11×14 board. The goal is to move one of your pawns to one of your opponent’s starting spots.

On each turn, a player may move one pawn up to two spaces and place one wall. Walls are designed to interfere with movement and must be positioned according to their color: green walls are placed vertically, while blue walls are placed horizontally. Every wall covers an area equivalent to two squares.

• Two pawns per player
• Nine green vertical walls and nine blue horizontal walls per player
• An 11×14 board with starting areas in the four corners
• Movement of up to two spaces for one pawn each turn
• Wall placement for blocking an opponent’s move

The central challenge in Blockade is deciding when to advance a pawn and when to use a wall to restrict the opponent. Once players have placed all their walls, they continue moving their pawns until one player reaches an opponent’s starting spot.

Described on its packaging as the “Beat the Barrier” strategy game, Blockade is part of a series of two-player strategy games released by Lakeside during the 1970s. Its compact rules combine a straightforward race with a limited supply of barriers, creating a direct contest on a distinctive board.