[pbmserv] Broadcast from camb via PBM Server

[pbmserv <pbmserv@gamerz.net>]

A new game Stymie has been added to the server.

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Help For the Game Of Stymie

Introduction

    Welcome to the network Stymie server. The Chameleon challenge command
    is described here. Other commands are the same as for all pbmserv
    games.

        stymie challenge [-size=number] userid1 userid2

    Starts a new game between userid1 and userid2. The -size parameter
    sets the board size within the range 3..12, with 8 being the default.

Rules

    Two players, Vert and Horz, take turns placing pieces of their colour
    on the board. Vert plays first and places a single V piece on any
    empty cell as the opening move.

    Thereafter players may place either:
      1) One piece of their colour on any empty cell, or
      2) Two pieces of the colour on an empty octagon and an adjacent
    empty square.

    If the opponent's last move was a singleton (not counting the opening
    move) then the current player may instead make a special three-piece
    move, occupying an empty octagon and two adjacent empty squares or an
    empty square and two adjacent empty octagons.

    Vert wins by connecting the top and bottom sides with a continuous
    chain of V pieces. Horz wins by connecting the left and right sides
    with a continuous chain of H pieces. One player must win.

Notes

    The following board shows a sample game won by H.

            A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O
           ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
      15 |     |     |     |     |     |  V  |     |     | 15
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
      14   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   14
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
      13 |     |     |  H  |  H  |  H  |  V  |     |     | 13
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
      12   ---   --- H --- V --- V --- H ---   ---   ---   12
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
      11 |     |  H  |     |  V  |  H  |  V  |     |     | 11
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
      10   ---   ---   --- V ---   --- V ---   ---   ---   10
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
       9 |     |  H  |  V  |     |  H  |  V  |  V  |     | 9
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
       8   --- H ---   ---   --- H --- V --- H --- V ---   8
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
       7 |  H  |     |  V  |  H  |  V  |  H  |  H  |  V  | 7
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
       6   ---   --- V ---   --- H --- H --- V --- V ---   6
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
       5 |     |  V  |     |     |  H  |     |  H  |  V  | 5
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
       4   ---   ---   ---   --- V --- V --- V --- H ---   4
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
       3 |     |  V  |     |     |  V  |     |  V  |  H  | 3
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
       2   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   2
          /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \ /   \
       1 |     |     |     |     |  V  |     |     |     | 1
          \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   / \   /
           ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---
            A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O

    As the board fills up, isolated single cells will often occur at key
    points. However the importance of taking these points must be weighed
    up against the fact that the opponent will be allowed to make a
    special triple move next turn.

Syntax

    Vert moves first and must open with a single move. The move syntax is:

        stymie move board# userid password f6             (single move to
    F6)
        stymie move board# userid password f6,g5        (double move to F6
    and G5)
        stymie move board# userid password f6,g5,h6   (triple move to F6,
    G5 and H6)

References and History

    Stymie was invented by Randall Bart in 2003.

    Implementation and help file by Cameron Browne, Jan 2004.