Abalone

French sumo-on-a-board — push your opponent's marbles off the hexagonal grid.

🌤indoor
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What is Abalone?

Abalone is a modern two-player abstract strategy game invented in France in 1987. Each player starts with 14 marbles arranged in a triangular formation at opposite ends of a hexagonal board. Players push adjacent lines of one to three of their own marbles, and can push an opposing line if they outnumber it. Push six of your opponent's marbles off the board to win. Over 4.5 million sets have been sold worldwide.

Quick facts

Category

Board Games

Type

Individual

Players

2–2

Where played

indoor

Country of origin

🇫🇷 France

Estimated origin

1987, Michel Lalet & Laurent Lévi (France)

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.verified