Strategy

Principles

There is no known algorithm to define a winning strategy. To choose his stroke the automate do a simulation of all successive possible strokes of each players and a mathematical algorithm of type min max chooses the one that gives the largest gain difference with its opponent. To reduce the computation time, the number of strokes simulated for each player is limited (automate level), and even at a high level, the choice made by the controller is not always the best with a very good player.

The player can not do all these calculations mentally and must, as in chess, think from the situation analysis and examination of its possible strokes that would be favorable and worst replicas of the opponent . The goal is to collect more seeds than the opponent, and it will lead all offensive strategies to collect many seeds, and defensive strategies to prevent the opponent to pick up a lot. It is not simple, and we will limit ourselves to openings and a few games tips for beginners.

Openings

Starting from default situation (4 seeds in each square), following simulations, it appears that best square choices are the first, the third and the sixth. When automate begins, it chooses randomly between these 3 squares. When you begin, the choice of one of these squares may put you in favourable situation.

Game Tips

1 - Before you rush to make a stroke to win 2 seeds (or a few), check if the opponent can not pick more at his turn.

2 - Try not to have many squares containing 1 or 2 seeds that follow, because then the adversary can collect many seeds at once: for example up to 9 seeds if you have 3 boxes with 2 seeds that follow.

3 - Do not let a lot of empty or 1 seed squares that follow, because the adversary playing can pass them to 1 or 2 seeds and you'll be vulnerable as above,

4 - Prepare several possible strokes collecting seeds, the opponent will often not be able to counter all and you can collect seeds in the next round.

5 - Prepare "traps", that is to say, situations where the opponent will be forced when playing to put several of his consecutive squares with 1 or 2 seeds, you'll be able to pick a lot of seeds.

5 - Try to establish a "granary" by accumulating a dozen seeds in a box, which can allow you to make a significant collection by collecting seeds that you had distributed in the squares of the opponent,

6 - If your opponent is doing a "granary" try avoiding to feed him in order to force to empty it at a moment where he can not pick up anything.