Bivouac is played upon a 6x11 field. The field is divided into three group of cells. Two 4x4 groups of red cells called Encampments are seperated and surrounded by single ranks and files of green cells called the Run. At the center of the Encampments are four marked cells called Goals, one set for White and the other Black. Each player begins the game with their twelve tokens on the outer cells of the Encampment of the opponent's Goals.
 
Tokens enter and exit the Encampment by stepping to a vacant cell.
 
On the Run, Tokens may slide to any direct orthogonally adjacent cell which is vacant. They can jump any and all pieces on the Run. No captures are performed on the Run.
 
In the Encampment, Tokens step to orthogonal or diagonal adjacent vacant cells. Tokens may also capture within the Encampment by jumping an enemy Token, such jumps must be performed completely within the Encampment. A Token may perform multiple capture moves within a single turn. Captures are not mandatory.
 
The game is won by the player who completely occupies his Goal cells, or reduces the opponent to three Tokens.
 
In the variant "Hostile Bivouac" the rules are the same except with mandatory and maximum captures.