The Four That Reverses Your Route
Most Sorry! cards send a pawn ahead, but the 4 orders a pawn to move backward exactly four spaces. It is not a penalty that cancels the turn: the player must use the card if a pawn can make the move legally. If none can, the move is lost.
That backward motion follows the spaces around the board in reverse, rather than cutting across it. So a pawn near its goal may be pulled away, while a pawn farther back can sometimes be repositioned into a more useful spot. The card’s effect depends on where each pawn is—not just on the number printed on it.
A Setback Can Change the Board
Moving backward can also bring a pawn onto a space occupied by an opponent. In that case, the opponent is sent back to Start, just as with a forward move that lands on an opposing pawn. A card that seems to undo progress can therefore create an opening or disrupt another player’s advance.
The 4 adds a small but consequential twist to Sorry!’s movement system: players cannot treat every turn as a race straight toward Home. They must keep track of the spaces behind their pawns, too. A pawn can lose ground and still improve its position—or make someone else start over.
