Help For Pente

Introduction

Welcome to the network Pente server. The rules of Pente are below. The commands are the same for all pbmserv games.

Pente supports games with more than two players. Up to six players may play together by including all of their userids in the "pente challenge" command.

The Rules of Pente

Object of the Game

On a 19x19 board, the two players of pente try to be the first to create a line of 5 or more stones in a row of their color *or* try to capture 5 pairs of their opponents stones. You capture a pair of stones any time you sandwich the stones between a pair of your stones.

Movement Rules

On your turn, you place a piece of your colour wherever you desire on the board.

          A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T 
      19  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
      18  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
      17  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
      16  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
      15  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
      14  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
      13  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
      12  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
      11  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
      10  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
       9  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
       8  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       7  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       6  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       5  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       4  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
       2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
       1  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
          A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T 

              Figure 1 -- Empty Pente Board

Tournament rules stipulate that Ohs first move goes to K10, and that Ohs next move *not* be within 2 spaces of the piece at K10.

Eks has no movement restrictions.

Capture Examples

        . . . . . .        . . . . . .
        . . . . x .        . . . . x .
        . . . o . .        . . . . . .
        . . o . . .   =>   . . . . . .
        . A o o x .        . x . . x .
        . . . . . .        . . . . . .

An 'x' piece placed at A results in the capture of 2 pairs of Ohs men.

        . . . . . .        . . . . . .
        . . . . x .        . . . . x .
        . . . o . .        . . . o . .
        . . B . . .   =>   . . o . . .
        . x . . . .        . x . . . .
        . . . . . .        . . . . . .

An 'o' piece placed at B does *not* result in the capture of a pair of Ohs men. Eks must do the "sandwich"ing to capture the Ohs men.

In the multi-player version, you may sandwich any two stones that do not belong to you. They do not have to be stones belonging to the same opponent.