Snare is played on a grid resembling a checkerboard. Half of the squares are shaded and contain a circle, the others are blank.

Players alternate turns. Each turn, a player marks an X in any unshaded square on the board. When a move is made which completely surrounds one or more of the shaded squares, the player making the move marks all of the circles as belonging to him.

Players continue to alternate moves until all shaded squares have been captured. The player capturing the most shaded squares is the winner.