Step into the captivating world of Sorry!, a classic board game that has entertained generations with its strategic gameplay and hilarious mishaps. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer eager to embark on a journey of laughter and frustration, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the twists and turns of this beloved game. From understanding the rules and setting up the board to mastering the art of blocking and moving pawns, you’ll discover the secrets to becoming a Sorry! aficionado.
Before you begin, gather your fellow players and prepare for an evening of friendly competition. Sorry! is designed for 2 to 4 players, each representing a different color: red, blue, green, or yellow. The game board features a circular track with 48 squares, divided into four sections with 12 squares each. At the start of the game, each player places their four pawns in their corresponding Start space.
The game unfolds as players take turns rolling a die and moving their pawns clockwise around the track. Landing on a square occupied by another player’s pawn results in a “sorry!” moment, where the opposing pawn is sent back to its Start space. However, if a player’s pawn lands on a square occupied by their own pawn, they form a “safe house,” protecting them from being bumped. As the game progresses, players must carefully consider their moves, strategically blocking opponents and maneuvering their pawns towards the Home spaces found in the center of the board. The first player to move all four pawns into their Home spaces wins the game.
Understanding the Game Board
The Sorry! game board is a vibrant and interactive square with 16 individual spaces on each side, making a total of 64 squares. It features a Home path for each player, situated in the center of the board, and a Start space for each player on the outermost edge. Additionally, there are four Safety Zones, one in each corner, which provide protection from being sent back to Start by opponents.
The board’s vibrant colors play a significant role in the gameplay. Each side of the board is a different color (blue, green, yellow, and red) and corresponds to a specific player’s pieces. The Start spaces, Home paths, and Safety Zones are also color-coded to match the respective players.
| Players | Colors | Start Space | Home Path | Safety Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player 1 | Red | Red Start | Red Home Path | Red Safety Zone |
| Player 2 | Yellow | Yellow Start | Yellow Home Path | Yellow Safety Zone |
| Player 3 | Blue | Blue Start | Blue Home Path | Blue Safety Zone |
| Player 4 | Green | Green Start | Green Home Path | Green Safety Zone |
The Sorry! game board’s design is intended to provide an engaging and strategic gaming experience. The vibrant colors create a visually appealing board, while the color-coded sections aid in gameplay. The Home paths, Start spaces, and Safety Zones provide players with clear pathways and protective areas throughout the game.
Setting Up a Game of Sorry
To begin a game of Sorry, you’ll need the following:
- Sorry game board
- 4 sets of 4 pawns (12 pawns total)
- 1 deck of Sorry cards
- 2-4 players
Board Setup:
The Sorry board is divided into four home bases, four paths leading to the center, a safety zone in the center, and a space outside the safety zone called “Start.” Each player chooses a home base and places their pawns on the four spaces in their starting zone called “Safety.”
Pawn Movement:
Players move their pawns in a clockwise direction. To move a pawn, the player draws a card from the deck. The card will either indicate a number to move the pawn, an instruction to use a slide space, or a Sorry! move.
Number Moves:
| Card | Move |
|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3, 5 | Move the selected pawn forward that number of spaces. |
| 4 | Move a pawn out of the safety zone and onto the first space of the path, or move an outside pawn forward 4 spaces. |
| 7 | Split a move between two pawns, moving one pawn 3 spaces and another pawn 4 spaces. |
| 8 | Move a pawn from the start space directly into one of your home base spaces. |
| 10 | Move a pawn from the start space past the safety zone and onto the first space of your path. |
| 11 | Move a pawn directly from the start space to any space in your home base. |
| 12 | Move a pawn from the start space to the last space on your path (just outside the home base). |
Moving Your Pawns
In Sorry!, the goal is to move all four of your pawns around the board and into the home space. To move a pawn, you must first draw a card. Each card will have one of four colors (red, yellow, green, or blue), and a number from 1 to 12. The color of the card determines which pawn you can move, and the number determines how many spaces you can move it.
Playing a Card
To play a card, you must first check to see if you have any pawns of the color shown on the card. If you do, you can move one of those pawns forward the number of spaces shown on the card. If you have no pawns of that color, you can either play a Sorry! card or draw a new card.
Sorry! Cards
Sorry! cards allow you to move your pawns backwards or send your opponents’ pawns back to start. There are two types of Sorry! cards: regular Sorry! cards and Split Sorry! cards. Regular Sorry! cards allow you to move any of your pawns backwards the number of spaces shown on the card. Split Sorry! cards allow you to split your move between two of your pawns, moving each pawn half the number of spaces shown on the card.
Here is a table of the different types of Sorry! cards:
| Card Type | Effect |
|---|---|
| Regular Sorry! card | Move any of your pawns backwards the number of spaces shown on the card. |
| Split Sorry! card | Split your move between two of your pawns, moving each pawn half the number of spaces shown on the card. |
Using the Pawnslide Spaces
Pawnslide spaces are crucial in the game of Sorry! as they allow players to advance their pawns quickly and strategically. These spaces are marked with arrows and are located on each player’s home board and around the outer track of the game board.
To use pawnslide spaces, players must first land on the space with their pawn. Then, they can slide their pawn along the arrows in the direction indicated. Pawns can slide one or more spaces in a single turn, as long as they land on another pawnslide space or their home base.
Special Rules for Pawnslide Spaces
There are some special rules that apply to pawnslide spaces:
| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Safety Zone | Pawns are safe from being sent back home if they land on a pawnslide space in their home board. |
| Multiple Pawns | If multiple pawns land on the same pawnslide space, the pawn that landed first moves first. |
| Blocked Pawnslide | If a pawnslide space is blocked by another pawn, the pawn slides as far as possible and stops before the blocked space. |
| Splitting Pawns | If a pawn lands on a pawnslide space that splits into two branches, the player can choose which branch to take. |
Landing on Your Own Pawn
If you land on a space occupied by one of your own pawns, you have the option to “stack” on top of it or to “bump” it forward. The decision of which to do depends on several factors:
- Position of the pawn: If your pawn is in a safe position, such as on a Home or Start space, it may be better to stack on it to protect it from being bumped by opponents.
- Number of pawns in front: If there are multiple pawns in front of your stacked pawn, it may be more beneficial to bump your pawn forward so that it can advance closer to the Home space.
- Opponent’s pawns: If there are opponent’s pawns nearby, you may want to stack on your pawn to block their movement or create a “roadblock.” This can prevent them from bumping your pawns or advancing their own.
- Available moves: If you have limited moves available, you may want to bump your pawn forward to create more options for your next turn.
- Strategy: Ultimately, the decision of whether to stack or bump your pawn is a matter of strategy. Consider your overall game plan and the position of the pawns on the board to make the best choice.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Stack | Place your pawn on top of the existing pawn, creating a stack. |
| Bump | Move the existing pawn forward one space and place your pawn in its original position. |
Bumping Opponents’ Pawns
One of the most exciting aspects of Sorry! is the ability to bump opponents’ pawns back to their starting positions. This can be a game-changer, especially if you’re close to getting your pawns to safety. Here’s how to bump opponents’ pawns:
Landing on an Opponent’s Pawn
If you land on a space occupied by an opponent’s pawn, you will automatically bump it back to its starting position. This is true regardless of whether you drew a card that allows you to move forward or backward.
Multiple Pawns on the Same Space
If there are multiple pawns on the same space, you will only bump the bottom pawn. The other pawns will remain on the space.
Bumping Trains
If you land on a space occupied by a pawn that is part of a train, you will bump the entire train back to its starting position. A train is created when two or more pawns of the same color are adjacent to each other.
Protected Pawns
Pawns that are in a Safe Zone or on a Home Space cannot be bumped.
Home Spaces
The four spaces in the center of the board are Home Spaces. Pawns that reach a Home Space are safe from being bumped.
Safe Zone
The four spaces on the outside edge of the board that are not Home Spaces are Safe Zones. Pawns that are in a Safe Zone cannot be bumped.
| Where You Can Bump Pawns | Where You Cannot Bump Pawns |
|---|---|
|
Opponent’s pawns on regular spaces |
Pawns in Home Spaces |
|
Opponent’s pawns in trains |
Pawns in Safe Zones |
Sending Pawns to Start
1. Rolling a 2
To send a pawn to start, you must roll a 2. If you do, you can move any pawn from your start space to the number 2 space on the board.
2. Rolling a 4
You can also send a pawn to start by rolling a 4. This allows you to move a pawn from your start space to any number 4 space on the board.
3. Rolling a Default
If you roll any other number, you cannot send a pawn to start. You must instead move a pawn that is already on the board.
4. Moving Pawns
To move a pawn, simply count the number of spaces indicated on the die and move your pawn clockwise around the board.
5. Landing on an Occupied Space
If you land on a space that is already occupied by another player’s pawn, you must bump that pawn back to its start space.
6. Landing on a Home Space
When you land on a home space, you are safe from being bumped by other players. You can only move your pawns off of a home space if you roll an exact number that matches the number on that space.
7. Winning the Game
The first player to move all four of their pawns to their home spaces wins the game.
Pawn Placement
| Start | Home | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Default | Red | Blue | Green | Yellow |
| Start | Any number 2 | 26 | 2 | 19 | 11 |
Getting to Home
### 8. Moving Your Pawns Home
Once you have advanced all four of your pawns around the board, you can start moving them into your home square. To do this, roll the die and move one of your pawns into your home square if the corresponding number is open. If your home square is blocked by another pawn, you must wait until it is clear before you can move your pawn in.
You can bump other pawns into the start area if your pawn lands on their spot, sending them back to the beginning. However, you cannot bump pawns that are in your home square.
The first player to get all four of their pawns into their home square wins the game.
| Number Rolled | Pawn Moved |
|---|---|
| 1 | Move pawn 1 forward 1 space |
| 2 | Move pawn 2 forward 2 spaces |
| 3 | Move pawn 3 forward 3 spaces |
| 4 | Move pawn 4 forward 4 spaces |
| 5 | Move any pawn forward 5 spaces |
| 7 | Move any pawn forward 7 spaces |
| 10 | Move any pawn forward 10 spaces |
| 11 | Move any pawn forward 11 spaces |
| 12 | Move any pawn forward 12 spaces |
| Get Out of Jail Free | Move any pawn out of the start area |
Blocking Opponents
Blocking opponents is a crucial strategy in Sorry!. By placing your pawns strategically, you can prevent your opponents from advancing or entering your home.
Surround Opponents
One effective way to block opponents is to surround their pawns with yours. This creates a barrier that they cannot pass through, forcing them to take a different route.
Form Blockades
Another technique is to form blockades by placing your pawns in adjacent spaces. This creates a solid barrier that prevents opponents from advancing in any direction.
Use Safe Spaces
Identifying safe spaces on the board is essential. These spaces are usually located near your home or in corners, where opponents cannot easily reach them.
Protect Your Pawns
Once you have blocked opponents, it’s important to protect your own pawns. Keep them in safe spaces and avoid leaving them vulnerable to attacks.
Consider Your Opponent’s Strategy
Pay attention to your opponent’s movements and anticipate their strategies. By understanding their game plan, you can better position your pawns to block their progress.
Tips for Blocking Opponents
Here are some additional tips for blocking opponents effectively:
- Use multiple pawns to block opponents.
- Place pawns in adjacent spaces to form strong blockades.
- Identify safe spaces on the board and keep your pawns there.
- Anticipate your opponent’s moves and position your pawns accordingly.
- Don’t be afraid to take risks and try different strategies.
Summary of Blocking Strategies
The following table summarizes the key blocking strategies in Sorry!:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Surround Opponents | Place your pawns around an opponent’s pawn to prevent it from moving. |
| Form Blockades | Place multiple pawns in adjacent spaces to create a barrier that opponents cannot pass through. |
| Use Safe Spaces | Identify spaces on the board where your pawns are less likely to be attacked and keep them there. |
Declaring the Winner
Once a player has moved all four pawns around the board and into their home zone, they must move all four pawns into their start space. The first player to complete this process declares “Sorry!” and wins the game. The other players continue playing until all pawns have been moved into their start spaces.
Additional Rules for Declaring the Winner
- If a player has any pawns left on the board, they cannot declare “Sorry!” even if all four of their pawns are in their home zone.
- If a player declares “Sorry!” prematurely, they must forfeit their turn and move their pawns back to their start spaces.
- If a player moves a pawn into their start space and then draws a card that allows them to move another pawn, they cannot move that pawn until their turn begins again.
How to Play Sorry
Sorry is a classic board game for two to four players that is easy to learn but can be challenging to master. The goal of the game is to be the first player to move all of their pawns around the board and into the home space.
The game is played on a board with 16 squares on each side and four home spaces in the center. Each player has four pawns of their own color. The game begins with each player placing their pawns in the start space of their color.
People Also Ask
How do you move your pawns in Sorry?
To move your pawns, you draw a card from the deck. The card will tell you how many spaces to move one of your pawns. You can move your pawns in any direction, but you can’t move them backwards. If you land on a space that is already occupied by another pawn, you bump that pawn back to its start space.
What is a sorry card?
A sorry card is a special card that allows you to move one of your pawns out of the start space or to bump another pawn back to its start space. You can use a sorry card at any time, even if it is not your turn.
How do you win the game of Sorry?
The first player to move all of their pawns around the board and into the home space wins the game.
