The goal of Classic Ordo is to reach the opposite row with one of the player's checkers. A player can also win the game by capturing all opponent's checkers or by breaking the group of opponent's checkers in such a way that the opponent is unable to reconnect his group on his next move.

During the game, after a player's move, all of that player's checkers must be connected (orthogonally or diagonally) in one sole group. If a group of a player's checkers is disconnected as a result of a capture made by the opponent, the player must move to reconnect his group again. If no such move is possible, the player loses the game.