How to play
A hexagonal board of 80 circular cells, two colours, one rule that changes everything: cull your opponent off the line.
CULLS is an abstract strategy game for two players, designed by Rob Nelson and Brian Bailey. You place coloured chips one at a time. When you bracket two opponent chips with your own, you cull them — they flip, linger one turn, then sweep off the board. The first player to connect five chips in a row on any axis wins.
The rules in four moves
1Place a chip
On your turn, tap any empty cell on the board to place one chip in your colour. Blue plays first.
Opening exception: on each player’s very first turn they place two chips back-to-back before play passes to the other player. Culls do not trigger during these starting placements.
2Bracket to cull
When your placement creates the pattern YOU · OPP · OPP · YOU along any of the three axes — horizontal or either diagonal — and your placed chip sits on an end of the four-cell window, the two opponent chips between are culled.
A single placement can close brackets on more than one axis at once.
3Pick which chip to cull
If your placement traps a pair, you choose which of the two trapped chips flips first.
The picked chip flips face-up — showing the CULLS “C” mark — and lingers in place for one full opponent turn. This gives both players a clean visual of exactly what just happened. At the end of that turn the flipped chip sweeps off the board.
4Connect five to win
Line up five of your chips in a row on any of the three axes and you win immediately. Detection runs after culls resolve, so a clever cull can open the line that wins the game.
Three strategy tips
- Hold the centre. The middle of the board touches all three axes — chips placed there contribute to more potential lines than chips on the edges.
- Balance threat and cull. Every chip you place is both an offensive piece (toward your five) and a defensive one (a future bracket end). Track both jobs at once.
- Mind every axis. A chip can be culled on any of three axes, not just the obvious one. Before placing into a tight space, scan all three directions for a closing bracket.
Frequently asked questions
What is CULLS?
CULLS is an abstract hexagonal strategy game for two players, designed by Rob Nelson and Brian Bailey. Players place coloured chips on a hexagonal board of 80 circular cells, cull opponent pairs by bracketing them, and race to connect five in a row.
How do you win at CULLS?
You win by connecting five of your chips in an unbroken line on any of the three axes — horizontal or either of the two diagonals.
What is culling in CULLS?
Culling is the core capture mechanic. When you place a chip that creates the pattern YOU · OPP · OPP · YOU along any of the three axes, the two opponent chips between are removed from the board.
Can you cull more than one pair with a single move?
Yes. A single placement can complete brackets on more than one axis at once, culling multiple pairs in the same move. The placer picks which trapped chip flips first for each bracket.
What happens on the first turn?
On each player’s very first turn they place two chips back-to-back before play passes. Culls do not trigger during these starting placements, even if the pattern would normally fire.
Is it legal to place between two opponent chips?
Yes. Placing between two opponent chips is allowed and sometimes strategic, but it is risky — they can close the bracket on a later turn and cull you.
How big is the CULLS board?
The CULLS board is a hexagon of 80 cells, arranged in 11 rows of 5 to 10 cells (an irregular hexagon with sides of six and five).
What does a culled chip look like on the board?
A culled chip flips face-up to show the CULLS “C” mark and stays in place for one full opponent turn before it sweeps off the board. This gives both players a clear visual of what just happened.
Can I play CULLS against a bot?
Yes — the lobby includes a bot opponent for instant practice with no queue, plus a local pass-and-play demo for two players sharing a single device.
How long does a CULLS game take?
A typical CULLS game lasts 10 to 20 minutes. Quick to learn, deep to master — the full ruleset fits on a card.
Read more
Dig deeper into the game with these articles on the CULLS blog: