Best Game of the Generals Setups and Formations (With Diagrams)

Your setup decides the shape of the whole game. There is no single best formation, because a setup your opponent can predict is a weak one, but these four give you solid starting points to adapt.

Updated November 15, 2026

Rules of thumb for any setup

Hide the flag in the back row, usually not in a corner, with at least one strong piece beside it.
Never put both top generals side by side. One Spy could take them both.
Spies go where enemy generals will arrive: the central files, one row behind your front line.
Privates up front as scouts, and keep one or two behind your generals to catch enemy Spies.
Use the six empty squares. Gaps in your back rows give pieces room to retreat and confuse your opponent about where the flag is.
Vary it. If you play the same opponent often, change at least the flag position every game.

In every diagram below, your army is at the bottom (rows 1 to 3). Rank abbreviations follow the pieces guide.

1. The balanced setup

The best default for beginners. Strength is spread evenly, the flag sits off-centre in the back row with a general beside it, and a decoy back-row piece makes it harder to guess which spot is real.

Balanced: flag on d1 guarded by the 1-Star and 2-Star Generals, spies on a2 and h2.

2. The aggressive setup

Puts your strongest pieces on the front row of one flank to break through early. It is risky against a player who has a Spy waiting there, so keep a Private close behind your generals.

Aggressive: generals lead on the left flank while the flag hides on the far right at h1.

3. The fortress setup

Builds a wall of strong pieces around the flag. Patient and hard to crack, but predictable: an opponent who sees your strongest pieces refusing to move will start looking right behind them.

Fortress: the flag on e1 is boxed in by the 4-Star, 1-Star and 5-Star Generals.

4. The flag-runner setup

Built to win by getting the flag to the far row. The flag starts on an edge file with an open lane ahead and escorts beside it. It works best once the centre is crowded and your opponent has committed pieces elsewhere.

Flag runner: the i-file is kept clear so the flag on i1, escorted by the 1-Star General on h2, can sprint once the path opens.

Try them out

Start a game against the computer, use Auto-place, then drag pieces to match one of these formations. When you are comfortable, play Game of the Generals online and see how real opponents react.

Best Game of the Generals Setups and Formations (With Diagrams)

Your setup decides the shape of the whole game. There is no single best formation, because a setup your opponent can predict is a weak one, but these four give you solid starting points to adapt.

Updated November 15, 2026

Rules of thumb for any setup

Hide the flag in the back row, usually not in a corner, with at least one strong piece beside it.
Never put both top generals side by side. One Spy could take them both.
Spies go where enemy generals will arrive: the central files, one row behind your front line.
Privates up front as scouts, and keep one or two behind your generals to catch enemy Spies.
Use the six empty squares. Gaps in your back rows give pieces room to retreat and confuse your opponent about where the flag is.
Vary it. If you play the same opponent often, change at least the flag position every game.

In every diagram below, your army is at the bottom (rows 1 to 3). Rank abbreviations follow the pieces guide.

1. The balanced setup

The best default for beginners. Strength is spread evenly, the flag sits off-centre in the back row with a general beside it, and a decoy back-row piece makes it harder to guess which spot is real.

Balanced: flag on d1 guarded by the 1-Star and 2-Star Generals, spies on a2 and h2.

2. The aggressive setup

Puts your strongest pieces on the front row of one flank to break through early. It is risky against a player who has a Spy waiting there, so keep a Private close behind your generals.

Aggressive: generals lead on the left flank while the flag hides on the far right at h1.

3. The fortress setup

Builds a wall of strong pieces around the flag. Patient and hard to crack, but predictable: an opponent who sees your strongest pieces refusing to move will start looking right behind them.

Fortress: the flag on e1 is boxed in by the 4-Star, 1-Star and 5-Star Generals.

4. The flag-runner setup

Flag runner: the i-file is kept clear so the flag on i1, escorted by the 1-Star General on h2, can sprint once the path opens.

Try them out

Start a game against the computer, use Auto-place, then drag pieces to match one of these formations. When you are comfortable, play Game of the Generals online and see how real opponents react.

Best Game of the Generals Setups and Formations (With Diagrams)

Your setup decides the shape of the whole game. There is no single best formation, because a setup your opponent can predict is a weak one, but these four give you solid starting points to adapt.

Updated November 15, 2026

Rules of thumb for any setup

Hide the flag in the back row, usually not in a corner, with at least one strong piece beside it.
Never put both top generals side by side. One Spy could take them both.
Spies go where enemy generals will arrive: the central files, one row behind your front line.
Privates up front as scouts, and keep one or two behind your generals to catch enemy Spies.
Use the six empty squares. Gaps in your back rows give pieces room to retreat and confuse your opponent about where the flag is.
Vary it. If you play the same opponent often, change at least the flag position every game.

In every diagram below, your army is at the bottom (rows 1 to 3). Rank abbreviations follow the pieces guide.

1. The balanced setup

The best default for beginners. Strength is spread evenly, the flag sits off-centre in the back row with a general beside it, and a decoy back-row piece makes it harder to guess which spot is real.

Balanced: flag on d1 guarded by the 1-Star and 2-Star Generals, spies on a2 and h2.

2. The aggressive setup

Puts your strongest pieces on the front row of one flank to break through early. It is risky against a player who has a Spy waiting there, so keep a Private close behind your generals.

Aggressive: generals lead on the left flank while the flag hides on the far right at h1.

3. The fortress setup

Builds a wall of strong pieces around the flag. Patient and hard to crack, but predictable: an opponent who sees your strongest pieces refusing to move will start looking right behind them.

Fortress: the flag on e1 is boxed in by the 4-Star, 1-Star and 5-Star Generals.

4. The flag-runner setup

Flag runner: the i-file is kept clear so the flag on i1, escorted by the 1-Star General on h2, can sprint once the path opens.

Try them out

Start a game against the computer, use Auto-place, then drag pieces to match one of these formations. When you are comfortable, play Game of the Generals online and see how real opponents react.

Best Game of the Generals Setups and Formations (With Diagrams)

Rules of thumb for any setup

1. The balanced setup

2. The aggressive setup

3. The fortress setup

4. The flag-runner setup

Try them out

Ready to play?

Keep reading

Best Game of the Generals Setups and Formations (With Diagrams)

Rules of thumb for any setup

1. The balanced setup

2. The aggressive setup

3. The fortress setup

4. The flag-runner setup

Try them out

Ready to play?

Keep reading

Best Game of the Generals Setups and Formations (With Diagrams)

Rules of thumb for any setup

1. The balanced setup

2. The aggressive setup

3. The fortress setup

4. The flag-runner setup

Try them out

Ready to play?

Keep reading