Hive Queen Bee & Victory Rules: Placement, Surrounding and Draws
Most Hive rules questions center on the Queen: when she must enter play, when pieces may start moving and exactly what counts as a winning surround.
The Queen must be placed no later than turn four
You can place your Queen on turns one, two or three, but if you have not done so she must be your fourth placement/turn under the standard rules.
You cannot move insects before placing your Queen
Until your Queen is in the Hive, your turns are placements. After she is placed, future turns may either place a new piece or move an eligible piece already in play.
A Queen is surrounded when all six neighboring spaces are occupied
The surrounding pieces can belong to either player. Your own insects can therefore help complete the enclosure around your Queen.
The Queen herself does not need to be immobile for you to lose
Victory is determined by the six occupied adjacent positions. Whether the Queen would otherwise have a legal move is irrelevant once the full surround exists.
One Hive still applies during attacks and escapes
A defending move that would split the Hive is illegal, even if it would otherwise free the Queen. Likewise, an attacker cannot break the Hive simply to reach the final surround space.
If both Queens are surrounded simultaneously, the game is drawn
A move can occasionally complete both surrounds at once. Standard Hive treats that position as a draw.