by Randy Ingersoll Chapter 6.

2 The Cover

Chapter 6.2 The Cover

Despite its slow moving ability, a Beetle is a very powerful
bug. The power of the Beetle comes from its ability to climb
atop the hive. (Section 2.2 Beetle)
Part of the Beetles power comes from the fact that climbing
atop the hive allows a Beetle to reach an interior space that is
inaccessible to bugs that move in a standard manner. But a
large portion of the Beetles power comes from what we will
refer to as The Cover. The Beetle Cover refers to its ability to
cover an opposing bug and render it immobile. Not only is an
opposing bug covered in this manner unable to move, but for
new bug placement purposes, the color of that space is
changed to the color of the topmost Beetle.

6.2.1 Immobilize the Queen

The Beetle Cover is a particularly dangerous weapon when Figure 6.2.1
the bug covered is the opposing Queen. Because she cannot 26 bA3 wS2/
escape, it is now much easier to surround the Queen. 27 wB1 bQ

Lets look at HV-lukiejro-ringersoll-2010-07-29-2049, a

game in which the immobilization of Blacks Queen leads to
a well earned victory for White. Figure 6.2.1 shows turns 26
and 27. The Black Ant pins the two White bugs at the farthest
reach of the hive and then White Beetle #1 covers the Black
Queen.
The Black Queen can not escape.

A Beetle cover is an excellent way to immobilize your 26

opponents Queen, render her escape impossible, and

thus prepare for the final attack. S
27

6.2.2 Direct Drop

When the Queen is covered, it is quite likely that new bugs S
will be able to be placed directly adjacent to the Queen! This
is called the Direct Drop and is a very serious threat.
Typically speaking, a new bug takes at least two turns to
attack the Queen. On the first turn the new bug is placed and
on the second turn it is moved into position against the
opposing Queen. But when a Queen is covered and new bugs
can be dropped in adjacent spaces, a tempo is gained by each

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Chapter 6.2 The Cover Play Hive Like a Champion

bug dropped immediately adjacent to the Queen. Realizing Figure 6.2.2

that many games are won or lost by only one tempo, it is easy 34 bA2 /wB1
to see the value of a Beetle cover of the enemy Queen. 35 wB1 bA2

Now lets examine Figure 6.2.2, a continuation of the game

HV-lukiejro-ringersoll-2010-07-29-2049 from the previous
section. Here, as in the previous figure, the Black Queen is
covered. Of the five empty spaces around the Queen only two
of them have adjacent Black bugs. Spaces A, B, and C are all
out of touch with any Black bugs and are, therefore, in danger
of direct drop placement of new White bugs.
This threat virtually forces Black to respond as shown in turn
34. Of course, White shifts the Beetle Cover to the newly
moved Black Ant. This cover of the Black Ant has a triply
negative effect on Blacks game. The Black Queen remains
pinned. The Black Ant is now permanently removed from A
play. And by moving away, the Black Ant has released the pin Q 35
34
on White Ant #1. This Ant is now free to join the attack or to B C
be used for defense.
S

Another game in which a Beetle cover is used very effectively Figure 6.2.3
is HV-ringersoll-fumanchu-2011-02-18-1224. Figure 6.2.3 22 bB2 /bG1
shows turn 22. Black brings in Beetle #2 to begin an assault
on the White Queen.
Five turns later, Figure 6.2.4 (page 43) shows Whites vain
attempt to defend. Notice how the Beetle Cover opens up both
space A and space B for direct bug placement adjacent to the
White Queen! Even though White has two Hoppers that can
hop out and vacate spaces around the Queen, White has no
chance.
On turns 28 and 30, Black brings in two bugs and White is
defenseless, resigning on turn 31 (Figure 6.2.5 on page 43).
Note, too, that when White Hopper #2 jumps out, space A is
22
opened up for a direct bug placement next to the Queen.
S
All in all, this game is an excellent example of how
the Beetle Cover can lead to a devastating attack.

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by Randy Ingersoll Chapter 6.2 The Cover

Figure 6.2.4 Figure 6.2.5

27 wG2 wG1/ 28 bS1 -bB2
29 wG1 /bS1
30 bS2 bS1/
31 White Resigns

30
A
28
B Q
27

29 A

S S

6.2.3 Beetle Pin Replacement

The third aspect of the Beetle Cover is the Beetle as a Pin Figure 6.2.6
Replacement. This will be demonstrated in the game HV- 47 wA3 bA3/
lukiejro-ringersoll-2010-07-29-2049, which was also used in
the earlier discussion regarding immobilizing the Queen.
In the moves leading up to Figure 6.2.6, White has forced
Black into an unfavorable ring. On turn 47, White Ant #3
breaks the ring and pins Black Ant #3. Black cannot gain the
elusive victory, even though he is only one turn away. There
47
are no Black bugs available to complete the victory.
White has as much time as needed for Beetle #2 to climb atop
the hive and move in to cover Black Ant #3. As soon as this
occurs, White Ant #3 is relieved of the pinning duty and is
free to move about and attack the Black Queen.
Although in this case it was not necessary, please notice that
after the Beetle Cover of Black Ant #3, a new bug could be
dropped into a pinning position on this Black Ant. And then
the White Beetle would also be free to move its way across
the hive and join the attack. A

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Chapter 6.2 The Cover Play Hive Like a Champion

Figure 6.2.7 shows the game some sixteen moves later. White Figure 6.2.7
Beetle #2 has covered Black Ant #3, White Ant #3 has joined 63 wG3 \wG2
the attack, and Black is just a few moves away from certain
defeat.
A
With no productive way to either complete the victory or
defend the oncoming White onslaught, Black stands by
helplessly and can only making time wasting moves. White,
meanwhile, attacks with Ant #3 and Hopper #2, and then
brings in the final Hopper, jumps into space A, and wins
easily when White Beetle #1 comes down from atop the hive
into space B.

This game shows another victory produced in large

part by the Beetle Cover. A

6.2.4 Covering a Defender A

63

The final aspect of the Beetle Cover applies to bugs S

defending the Queen. By moving out at an opportune
moment, a defending bug can vacate a space adjacent to Figure 6.2.8
48 bM1 wB2
the friendly Queen. (Chapter 7.2 Defending the Queen)
If properly positioned, the same bug can be used to pin an
attacking bug, block access to a vital space, or actually attack
the opposing Queen. By covering a defending bug, a Beetle
can prevent this exodus from happening while simultaneously
staying in position to complete the encirclement of the
opposing Queen and, thereby, bring victory.

48
A good example of this is the following game, HV-
humdeabril-ringersoll-2010-11-29-0410. In Figure 6.2.8 we Q
see that Black is on the attack, already having successfully
executed a cover of the White Queen, this time by a Mosquito
moving like a Beetle. But White has three well placed
defenders. Hopper #1, Hopper #3, and Beetle #2 are all in
position to move out if given the right opportunity. On turn
48, Black elects to shift the cover from the Queen to the
defending Beetle. This Mosquito move serves multiple
purposes. It keeps the White Beetle from vacating an LM
important space adjacent to the White Queen. It stops the
Beetle from defending by covering a Black attacker. And it
keeps the Black Mosquito within striking range of other
spaces adjacent to the White Queen.

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by Randy Ingersoll Chapter 6.2 The Cover

In Figure 6.2.9 we see a second Beetle attacker approach and Figure 6.2.9
cover White Hopper #1. These two covers are vital to the 52 bB2 wG1
success of Blacks attack. Without the cover, White Hopper
#1 would be free to move as soon as space B is occupied. But
with the cover, Black can occupy space B without any
negative consequences. The same is true with spaces A and C.
In this figure there is a ring (Section 4.3) that would allow the
A
White Beetle to move if it were not for the Black Mosquito
cover. Soon, White Ant #1 will break the ring and move on to B
better uses elsewhere. (See the pin in Figure 6.2.10). B

C
With the ring broken, however, the White Beetle would still G
52
be able to move as soon as either space A or space C is
occupied.
But with the two covers (by Beetle #2 and the Mosquito) keep
the White defenders in place and as we see in Figure 6.2.10,
Black can safely move in. In this figure we can see that Black
Ant #2 has already moved into space B. On turn 60, the LM
Ladybug moves into space C. And finally, on the next move,
one of the Black bugs will complete the victory with a move Figure 6.2.10
60 bL1 wM1/
into space A.

This game has shown an excellent win for Black,

proving again the power of the Beetle, in this case
G
covering a defender.
A

6.2.5 Conclusion B

The Cover is a very powerful weapon in the hive. 60

Become proficient at its use and you will see the

victories pile up.

LM

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