Breakthrough
Race a pawn to the far edge — move forward, capture only on the diagonal.
How to play Breakthrough
You are the light pawns at the bottom and move first. Click one of your pawns to see its moves, then click a highlighted square. A pawn steps one square straight or diagonally forward into an empty square, but it can only capture an enemy diagonally — never straight ahead, and never backward. Win by breaking any single pawn through to the opponent's home row, or by capturing every enemy pawn. Beat the computer on Easy, Medium, or Hard, or press 2P to pass-and-play with a friend.
Breakthrough leaderboard
Top scores — log in to compete.
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Breakthrough — frequently asked questions
How do pawns capture in Breakthrough?
Only diagonally forward. A pawn advances one square straight or diagonally into an empty square, but to take an enemy it must move diagonally onto it — a straight-ahead enemy simply blocks you.
How do you win Breakthrough?
Be the first to move any one of your pawns onto the opponent's back (home) row, or capture all of their pawns. There is no draw — someone always breaks through.
Is there a computer opponent?
Yes. An alpha-beta search plays the dark pawns with Easy, Medium, and Hard levels — it rewards advancing phalanxes and defends its home row, and always makes a legal reply.
Can I play Breakthrough with a friend?
Yes — tap the 2P button for local pass-and-play on one device, and tap it again to return to playing the computer.
Is Breakthrough free to play?
Yes — Breakthrough is completely free on Inkplay, with no download, no sign-up, and no in-game purchases. Open the page and play instantly on desktop or mobile.
Can I play Breakthrough unblocked?
Yes. Breakthrough runs entirely in your browser with no download, install, or plugins, so it loads instantly and keeps working even on school or work networks where bigger game sites get blocked.
More black & white games
In the mood for more? Try Chess, Tic Tac Toe, Connect Four, Reversi — or browse all board games and the full games list on Inkplay.