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 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 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.

Games can be drawn if the board fills up before either player wins.

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.

Syntax

V moves first. The move syntax is:    

antipalos move board# userid password b2-c3  (place a piece between points B2 and C3)
antipalos move board# userid password swap  (swap the opening move - second move only)

References and History

Antipalos rules by Martin Collier 1982.

Implementation and help file by Cameron Browne, March 2004.