A good plan
starts quietly.

Where do the pieces start?

In the classic 40-piece game, fill your nearest four rows on the 10 × 10 board. The two middle rows start empty. The opponent does the same at the other end, with identities facing their owner.

Place one piece per square. Once play begins, Bombs and Flag stay in their original positions. Our smaller practice adaptation places ten pieces within each army's first three rows, following the Duel roster. Do not copy that empty-space arrangement into a full 40-piece game.

Where should you put your Flag?

A protected back-row Flag is a useful beginner starting point. Fewer adjacent approach squares can simplify defense. This is a practical idea, not a requirement of the rules.

A corner reduces the directions from which your Flag can be attacked, but familiar corner fortresses can be predictable. A central back-row position may be less obvious but needs more attention. Consider how you will respond if an enemy Miner reaches the surrounding Bombs.

Your Flag position should fit the rest of the formation. Hiding it far from your mobile defense may work until a Scout opens the wrong lane.

Use Bombs to shape choices

Bombs can protect a Flag, discourage a lane or act as decoys away from your real objective. Because they never move, their original placement also determines which friendly routes can become blocked.

Surrounding every approach with Bombs creates a clear defensive idea, but gives enemy Miners an important target. Scattering every Bomb creates uncertainty, but can leave your Flag one attack away from capture. Choose a balance you can explain.

Give mobile pieces a way out

Before you finish your setup, trace a path for a Scout and for at least one Miner. The lakes divide the middle into approach lanes. A powerful piece stuck behind immobile Bombs may contribute less than a low rank with room to act.

Keep some Miners out of early exchanges. You may need them once a likely Flag enclosure is identified. Put the Spy where it can support a plan without being the first unknown piece sacrificed.

Three starting ideas and their tradeoffs

These are editorial planning patterns, not proven optimal formations. Their value depends on the opponent, the edition and your ability to carry out the plan.

A quick setup checklist

• My Flag is protected, but I understand how an enemy Miner could approach it.
• I can move pieces into at least two useful lanes.
• My Bombs do not isolate most of my strong pieces.
• I have a plan to preserve some Scouts and Miners.
• I can vary this setup next game instead of repeating it automatically.

For your next decisions after the opening, read the strategy field notes. To experiment without filling 40 squares, shuffle a practice duel and rearrange the red army before starting.