STRATEGY: FIRST THOUGHTS GENERAL STRATEGY Principles are easily identified - but the game is still to young in terms of sustained, high level scrutiny to ascertain their relative importance. Here are some of these principles, taken in isolation. * Central Plots should be regarded as more significant than edge squares- especially by the Builder who generally profits by playing 1-1-1-1-1 on first move, with either 2,3 or 4 of these tiles added to central plots. The Destroyer may then contest the control of the central plots- or, alternatively adopt a strategy of winning edge plots quickly. * Playing fewer 1-1-1-1-1 moves than your opponent is generally disadvantageous. In fact this move should generally be played whenever it is available. The main exception would be when a player makes a winning threat, which, if it does not win outright, will prevent the opponent playing
1-1-1-1-1 in reply.
*Normally being in the lead (having won more plots than your opponent) is advantageous. This is especially the case if one player has won six plots and requires just one more plot- any plot- to win. Ideally, you don't want your opponent to reach six unless you can strike back immediately. Having said that, whenever a player wins a plot, his Tile Count (see note below) in the remaining field is reduced. This may give some compensation to a player who is one or more plots behind. However, if a player is more than a single plot behind (except in cases where immediately catching up is an option) such compensation is rarely sufficient- unless backed up by strong positional threats.
TILE COUNTS
With the builder to play the Tile Count is x + 2 (with x being the difference between the number of tiles in play and 64). Thus, at the start of play the TC is 0. With the builder to play the tile count is x - 2. If neither player were to play 1-1-1-1-1, then, the tile count would remain zero until the end of the game. In fact a game could well end with a TC of zero, even in the case of a numerical win.
8880
0008
5805
0066
Here, for example, the builder has lost the game- but to work out the TC we take it as B to play, and the TC is zero.
In actual games, however, the TC fluctuates (in a way that slightly favours the Builder) because of 1-1-1-1-1 moves. This first move advantage (if B opens with 1-1-1-1-1) is,however,limited as D can aim to attain a tactical initiative by being the first to play a weightier move.
Another TC (other that the total board one referred to thus far) is the "Remaining Field Tile Count". This is a TC which excludes plots which have been decided already. Note that, whenever, a player wins one plot (however the plot is won) then that player's RFTC is always reduced by four.
ANNOTATED GAMES The relative importance of all the above considerations can only be assessed after more games (played with the right admixture of soundness and verve!) have been studied. Therefore, any annotated games will be gratefully received and perhaps added to this blog. |