Bagel

Bagel is a quick, tense game with random setup for two players in which players try to create as many 3-in-a-rows as possible. Each turn, players must decide whether to score points, set up scoring opportunities, or hinder their opponent. Although players will develop general strategies for optimizing their scores, the random set up of the board requires players to closely examine each game state before placing discs.

Terms

An n-in-a-row consists of 1 or more (n) like-colored stones that are aligned and connected. The center hole, empty tiles, and opponent discs break connectivity.

Components

36 round tiles. Four sets of nine in four color-symbol combinations, (e.g., red bagels, orange baguettes, green coffee cups and blue croissants). The symbols are to help out colorblind players.
40 discs. Two set of 20 discs in two colors, light/white and dark/black.
Paper and pencil or two 20-sided dice in two colors for in-game scoring.

Set Up

Shuffle or mix the 36 tiles and create a randomized hex-hex-4 layout of face up tiles with no center tile in the playing area. The round tiles should easily pack together using a little care and perhaps a straight edge or ruler to line up the tiles. See Figures 1 and 2 for sample layouts.

Each player takes a set of 20 discs.

The light/white player will play first.

Tip: Bagel can be played using the suits of a standard deck of cards or a Rook deck, and two sets of checkers. The cards are laid out, in overlapping brick fashion, to form a hex-hex-4 board using nine cards (ace to nine) in four suits and leaving the center space empty.

Figure 1. Sample Random Game Setup

Figure 2. Equivalent Card Layout

Game Play

The first player starts the game by placing a white disc on any empty tile. The pie rule can be applied, see Pie Rule below.

Following the first player's turn, player turns will alternate.

On a turn, a player must place either one or two discs from his or her reserve. Using the following restrictions:

Discs may only be placed on empty tiles. (This excludes the center hole and occupied tiles.)
When two stones are placed, they must be placed on two like-colored (or like-symbolled) tiles which are aligned (in the same row or diagonal). The intervening tiles can be empty or contain a disc of either player color. The center hole can also be ignored. That is, tiles on opposite sides of the center hole can be selected.
Record his or her current score using paper and pencil or scoring dice. See Scoring below.

Pie Rule: To apply the pie rule, on the second player's first turn only, he may opt to accept the first player's move as his own. The second player exchanges discs with his opponent and does not place any discs. In effect, the second player becomes the new first player! Following this role exchange play continues with no further role swapping.

Figure 3. First Placement

Here White has taken a strong, central position, c4, with potential for three 3-in-a-rows as indicated be the red lines. Black can choose to block but will only be able to block two of these three threats. Instead, Black is better off turning the tables on the first player by invoking the pie rule!

Figure 4. Countering the Triple Threat

Black plays c3 and d3. This blocks one of White's 3-in-a-rows and stops any longer n-in-a-rows on c1-c6 diagonal.

Figure 5. Balancing Act

White completes a 3-in-a-row with a2 and b3. Black replies with e3 and e6 completing a 3-in-a-row and limiting White on the a2-f7 diagonal. What should White do here? C5, c6 seems good but d5, f5 creates a 4-in-a-row (worth two 3-in-a-rows) and blocks Black on the b1-g6 diagonal... then what?

Game End

The game ends when one player cannot place a disc, either due to no empty tiles remaining on the board or no remaining discs in reserve. At game’s end scoring takes place.

Scoring

Players count the number of 3-in-a-rows created by their discs. The 3-in-a-rows can overlap or intersect. For example, a 5-in-a-row counts as three overlapping 3-in-a-rows. The 3-in-a-rows are counted in all three directions established by the hex layout.

Winning the Game

The player with the most 3-in-a-rows wins the game.

If tied, the players compare their longest n-in-a-rows of size greater than 3. This means that players should compare rows of size 6, 5, and 4. The player with the longest, unmatched n-in-a-row wins. Finally, if still tied, the second player (Black) to place discs in the game wins.

Figure 6a. Tied Game (7 - 7)

3-in-a-rows are indicated by red lines. Note that a 4-in-a-row counts as two 3-in-a-rows.

Figure 6b. Tie Resolution

Both players have seven 3-in-a-rows.
Neither player has a 6-in-a-row.
Neither player has a 5-in-a-row.
Both players have one 4-in-a-row.
Black (second to place discs) wins.

Bagel - Sample Game 2

Sample Game

Designer Comments

When designing games, I prefer to design accessible, simple, short, tight games that are creative or offbeat in some way. Hopefully, players will find Bagel meets these criteria well.

I like the idea that a game does not have to be purchased to be enjoyed. Bagel can be played using a standard deck of cards and checkers, glass beads, or coins.

Bagel is a simple game with complicated choices to be made. It is a placement game without piece movement. This make analysis much easier. But, the use of random tiles when assembling the game board makes each board is a new puzzle. There are no standard opening sequences of moves as in Gomoku or Chess. Normally, players will want to place two discs per turn but often times players must make the difficult choice of playing just one disc in order to stop their opponent from scoring big or to score big themselves.

Bagel is a short game, usually lasting about 10 rounds. For the majority of their turns players will choose to place two discs. Although, the game ends when players are forces to play just one token because each color-symbol has an odd number of tiles. Because the game is short, players may be more inclined to play multiple games or during short breaks. The game could be scaled up to a hex-hex-5 or a different shape board but this has not been tested and is less accessible.

Bagel is a tight game, with localized tactics. Players tend to react to each other's moves and usually play for points or to stop their opponent from scoring. The basic strategy is playing for the longest n-in-a-row which yields efficient scoring and tie-breaker advantage. Another strategy is to force the opponent to play just one disc in the mid-game. This almost always leads to a lower score for the opponent.

Bagel is offbeat. By that, I mean it diverges from current trends in abstract games as defined by the abstract game forum on the BoardGameGeek web site. I like my games to present something different from what is currently the flavor of the day. And yeah, Bagel is a strange name for a game.

Please note that for now these game rules may be duplicated and distributed via the web. All rights are reserved. Those that wish to program or sell this game in any form should contact the author at philleduc.pled@gmail.com for permission or a license to do so.

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