FLIGHT CLUBThe rules people play differently
| Rule | Common choices | Flight Club |
|---|---|---|
| Taking off | Only a 6 (the classic rule). Many families also let a 5 take off, sometimes without the extra roll. A few allow any even number | Only a 6 |
| Where a new plane goes | Onto the start tile and stop, or onto the start tile and keep moving | Start tile, then stop |
| Rolling a 6 | Roll again. This is nearly universal | Roll again |
| Third 6 in a row | The planes moved on those sixes go back to the hangar; or all your planes on the board go back; or just lose the turn | Lose the turn with no move. Your first two moves stay |
| Two of your planes on one tile | Just share the tile; or form a wall opponents cannot pass; or stack and move together | Share the tile, never block, move one plane at a time |
| Landing on a stack | Every opposing plane there goes home; or the attacker bounces back; some settle it with a dice roll | Every opposing plane on that tile goes back to its airport |
| Color jump | Land on your color and jump four squares to the next square of your color, once per move | The same, once per move |
| Shortcut flight | Land on your shortcut tile and fly across. Many sets send back any opposing plane under the dashed path | Fly 12 squares. Planes under the path are safe; only the landing tile bumps |
| Jump then fly, fly then jump | A jump onto the shortcut tile usually flies too; some families also jump after the flight | A jump onto the shortcut tile flies; no jump after a flight |
| Getting home | Exact roll needed. If you roll too high you either stay put or bounce back | Exact roll; extra points bounce you back |
| End of the game | Stop when the first player finishes, or play on until only one player is left | The first pilot with four planes home wins and the round ends |
Settle these five before the first roll
Most arguments at the table come from five rules. Agree on them before anyone touches the dice and the game stays friendly.
- Which numbers take off? Only a 6 makes the start slow and tense. Adding a 5 gets everyone moving sooner, which younger kids usually prefer.
- Do stacked planes block? A wall makes the game more tactical but can freeze a player for several turns.
- What does a third 6 cost? Sending planes home is the harshest version. Losing the turn keeps it light.
- Does the shortcut hit planes underneath? If it does, the squares under the dashed line become dangerous.
- Do you play on after the winner? Playing for second place keeps everyone in the game longer.
Why Flight Club uses one fixed set
Flight Club plays online, with every phone showing the same board, so the server needs one rule set that everyone can trust. We picked a gentle friends-room version: only a 6 takes off, stacked planes never block, a third 6 just ends the turn, and the shortcut only bumps where it lands. It keeps games moving and nobody gets stuck behind a wall.
There are no rule settings in a room right now, so you cannot switch to your family’s version. What you do get is no arguing: the server checks every move, the planes you can move light up, and the game explains a jump or a flight by animating it square by square.
A note on “correct” rules
There is no single official rulebook for aeroplane chess. Printed sets, apps and families all differ, and that is fine. If your table plays a 5 as a takeoff, that is a real way to play. The only rule that matters is the one you agreed before you started.