[pbmserv] New game: Antipalos

[Cameron Browne <cameronb@optusnet.com.au>]

Hi,

A new game Antipalos has been added to the server. In a startling departure 
from the traditional connection game paradigm, the aim is to connect your 
sides of the board with pieces of your colour.

I believe that Antipalos is essentially a Shannon switching game played on 
the edges, except that vertices remain unclaimed and may be used in both 
players' connections simultaneously.

Please challenge me to a game or two:

 antipalos challenge yourname camb
 antipalos challenge camb yourname

camb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help For the Game Of Antipalos

Introduction

   Welcome to the network Antipalos server. The Antipalos challenge command is
   described below. Other commands are the same for all pbmserv games.

   antipalos challenge [-size=number] userid1 userid2

   Start a new game between userid1 and userid2

   The -size parameter sets the overall board size. This must be in the
   range 3..26 with the default being 16.

Rules

   The board is initially empty. Vert starts then players alternate take
   turns placing a piece of their colour on the board. Each piece is
   placed between two diagonally adjacent points and cannot cross or be
   placed on top of an existing piece.

   Vert (V) wins by connecting the top and bottom edges of the board with
   a chain of V pieces, while player Horz (H) wins by connecting the left
   and right edges of the board with a chain of H pieces. Paths may cross
   where they meet at a vertex.

Notes

   Below is a 6x6 game won by Vert, who has completed a chain of V pieces
   from top to bottom.

       A   B   C   D   E   F   G
    7  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  7
                        v
                          v
    6  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  6
        h     h   h h     v
          h h   h     h v
    5  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  5
                      v h     h
                    v     h h
    4  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  4
                    v
                      v
    3  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  3
                      v
                    v
    2  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  2
                  v
                v
    1  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  1
       A   B   C   D   E   F   G

   The winning Vert chain connects top and bottom. The Horz chain crosses
   it without cutting it, but does not itself connect the left and right
   sides.

   Games can be drawn.

Syntax

   V moves first. The move syntax is:

   antipalos move board# userid password b2-b4  (place a piece between
   points B2 and B4)

References and History

   Antipalos rules by Martin Collier 1982.

   Implementation and help file by Cameron Browne, March 2004.