1. Basic Rules

1.1 How to Win

1.2 The Start

1.3 Placing a New Bug

1.4 Basic Principles of Bug Movement

1.4.1 One Hive

1.4.2 Freedom to Move

1.4.3 Constant Contact

1.5 Bug Quantities

2. The Bugs

2.1 Queen Bee

2.2 Beetle

2.3 Ant

2.4 Spider

2.5 Grasshopper

2.6 Mosquito

2.7 Ladybug

2.8 Pillbug - NEW in 2nd Edition

3. Notation

3.1 Piece Name

3.2 Target Space - Reference Piece

3.3 Target Space - Orientation

3.4 Sample Move Notation

3.5 Online Play and Game Review

3.6 Standard Position

4. Common Hive Formations

4.1 Gate

4.2 Door

4.3 Ring

4.4 Elbow

4.5 Pocket

5. Strategy in the Hive

5.1 Three Keys to Victory

5.2 Attack or Defend

5.3 Place or Play

5.4 Strategy and Bugs in the Hive

5.5 Opening Strategy for White

5.6 Opening Strategy for Black

5.7 Mid-game Strategy

5.8 End game Strategy

6. Elementary Tactics

6.1 The Pin

6.1.1 Placing a Pin

6.1.2 Replacing a Pin

6.1.3 Releasing a Pin

6.1.4 Choosing Pin Placement

6.1.5 The Bi-Directional Pin

6.2 The Cover

6.2.1 Immobilize the Queen

6.2.2 Direct Drop

6.2.3 Beetle Pin Replacement

6.2.4 Covering a Defender

6.3 The Block

6.3.1 Placing a Block

6.3.2 Removing a Block

6.3.3 Converting a Gate

6.4 The Fill

6.4.1 Basic Fill

6.4.2 Double Fill

6.4.3 2-for-1 Fill

6.4.4 Battle of Fills

6.5 Bug Placement - New in 2nd Edition

6.5.1 The Opening

6.5.2 Beetle Placement

6.5.3 Spider and Hopper Placement

6.5.4 Pinning the Elbow

6.5.5 Placement on the Queen

6.5.6 Double Pin

7. Advanced Tactics

7.1 Counting Bugs

7.1.1 Defensive Bug Counting

7.1.2 Offensive Bug Counting

7.1.3 Complex Bug Counting

7.2 Defending the Queen

7.2.1 Moving Out of Harm's Way

7.2.2 Pin the Attackers

7.2.3 Place a Block

7.2.4 Adjacent Friendly Defenders

7.2.5 The Beetle Defense

7.3 Controlling Bug Placement

7.3.1 In the Opening

7.3.2 Leads to a Double Pin

7.3.3 Leads to a Shutout

7.3.4 Used on Defense

7.4 The Counter Attack

7.4.1 Counter Attack with Strength

7.4.2 Counter Attack with Mobility

7.4.3 Counter Attack with Tempo

7.4.4 Counter Attack Too Early

7.5 The Shutout

7.5.1 Complete Shutout

7.5.2 Partial Shutout

7.5.3 Shutout Release

7.5.4 Over Confidence

7.6 Making a Ring

7.6.1 On Defense, Freeing the Queen

7.6.2 On Defense, Freeing a Defender

7.6.3 On Offense

7.6.4 Neutral Rings

7.7 Playing for a Draw

7.7.1 Stretching the Hive

7.7.2 Compact Queens

7.7.3 Forced Draw

7.8 The Squeeze

7.8.1 Winning a Drawn Game

7.8.2 Opening a Gate

7.8.3 Releasing a Pin

7.8.4 Freeing Your Queen

7.9 The Hop Around

7.9.1 Basic Hop Around

7.9.2 Complex Hop Around

7.9.3 Planning the Hop Around

7.9.4 Other Uses for the Hop Around

7.10 The Two Beetle Attack

7.10.1 Beetle Squeeze

7.10.2 Forcing the Second Beetle

7.10.3 Double Cover

7.10.4 Two Beetle Defense - NEW in 2nd Edition

7.11 Using Your Spiders

7.11.1 Spiders in the Opening

7.11.2 Pin Replacement

7.11.3 Spider Placement

7.11.4 Spiders on the Attack

7.11.5 Spiders on Defense

7.11.6 Spider Interception - NEW in 2nd Edition

7.12 Counting Tempo

7.12.1 Simple Tempo Counting

7.12.2 Gaining Tempo with a Beetle Cover

7.12.3 Gaining Tempo with Good Defenders

7.12.4 Gaining Tempo with a Waiting Move - New in 2nd Edition

7.12.5 Wasting Tempo

7.13 The Mosquito Conversion

7.13.1 Ant-Beetle Conversion

7.13.2 Conversion in the Opening

7.13.3 Proper Mosquito Placement

7.13.4 Hopper Conversion

7.13.5 The Immobile Mosquito

7.13.6 The 'Faux' Beetle Conversion

7.14 Using the Ladybug

7.14.1 The Ladybug Attacks

7.14.2 The Ladybug in Confined Spaces

7.14.3 The Ladybug on Defense

7.14.4 Ladybug in the Opening

7.15 The Pillbug - New in 2nd Edition

7.15.1 Rescuing the Queen

7.15.2 Stripping an Attacker

7.15.3 Covering the Pillbug

7.15.4 Surround the Pillbug

7.15.5 Squeeze the Pillbug

7.15.6 The Self Pin

7.15.7 The Double Pin

7.15.8 Winning a Drawn Game

7.15.9 The Direct Attack

7.15.10 Bringing a Trapped Bug into the Game

7.15.11 Adjusting Placement of a Friendly Bug

7.15.12 Creating a Fill

7.15.13 Making a Ring

7.15.14 Hurrying a Bug

7.15.15 The Pillbug and the Mosquito

7.16 Psychology in the Hive

7.16.1 Physical Condition and Mental Preparedness

7.16.2 Never Give Up

7.16.3 Do the Unexpected

7.16.4 Using the Clock

7.17 The Pin Revisited

7.17.1 Pin Replacement

7.17.2 Beetle Cover

7.17.3 Defensive Block

7.17.4 Counting Bugs

7.17.5 Control Bug Placement

7.17.6 Making a Ring

7.17.7 Using Your Spiders

8. Beginners’ Mistakes

8.1 Misusing Your Ants

8.1.1 Starting with an Ant

8.1.2 Allowing Your Ants to be Pinned

8.1.3 Using Your Ants to Pin Spiders

8.1.4 Failing to Get Your Ants into Play Quickly Enough

8.2 Allowing the Queen to Escape

8.3 Making a Ring

8.4 Wasting Tempo in the Opening

8.5 Failing to Defend Your Queen

8.6 Allowing a Shutout

9. Opening Theory

9.1 Basic Concepts

9.2 Elbow Openings

9.2.1 The C Opening

9.2.2 The Z Opening

9.3 In-Line Openings

9.3.1 The I Opening

9.3.2 The J Opening

9.3.3 The F Opening

9.4 Other Openings

9.4.1 The X Openings

10.1 Bug Movement atop the Hive

10.1.1 Beetle Start Height and Beetle End Height are Equal

10.1.2 Beetle Start Height is Above Beetle End Height

10.1.3 Beetle Start Height is Below Beetle End Height

10.1.4 Ladybug Movement atop the Hive

10.1.5 Pillbug Movement atop the Hive - New in 2nd Edition

10.2 Additional Bugs

10.2.1 Mosquito Interaction

10.2.2 Dragonfly

10.2.3 Scorpion

10.2.4 Honeycomb

10.2.5 Praying Mantis

10.2.6 Rhinoceros Beetle

10.2.7 Walking Stick

10.2.8 Moth

10.2.9 Mite

10.2.10 Flea