Connect6 Pente hybrid?
Posted:
Nov 5, 2024, 7:21 PM
I suspect this type of idea has come up previously, but here's perhaps a new twist- it's non colinear stone placement on the same turn. Connect5 instwad of connect6, and Pente style pair captures allowed. This came up recently in the Pente discord group. I'm interested in hearing what C6/Pente crossover players think of it. Noncolinear Connect5 without captures: https://brainking.com/en/Profile?u=37872
Retired from rated TB Pente, but still playing live and TB variants
Re: Connect6 Pente hybrid?
Posted:
Nov 11, 2024, 12:43 PM
@ owen_ - It can sort of be played at https://designer.abstractplay.com/ (to capture, you click to the color of the stones which are being captured and then click on them to remove them). It can also be tried on a physical board, of course. The player who brought the variant idea to my attention meentioned that in unrestriced connect5 with both moves not allowed to be on the same line, the second player has an advantage. I can't say I have a deep understanding of C5 + Pente after only two games against myself, but both games did end as second player wins. I'll be interested to hear if second player wins are also your experience with it. A pie rule like swap2 might help it.
Retired from rated TB Pente, but still playing live and TB variants
Re: Connect6 Pente hybrid?
Posted:
Nov 29, 2024, 6:17 AM
Hopefully, this figure link will open even for people not on discord. It illustrates how three stones can be captured (top right), how a player can force a win by a foul by the other player (middle right), and how a player can prevent the other player from being able to protect a pair (left).
Re: Connect6 Pente hybrid?
Posted:
Jun 23, 2026, 8:40 AM
I've now made an app which allows exploration of this idea. It has two variants. Variant one allows overlines (five or more) to win and variant two allows them to be played, but they don't win. In variant two, in the rare case where one player places a winning stone which also creates a five in a row for their opponent by removing an end overline stone, the game ends in a draw. The app is on a 15x15 board with black playing first. Especially with variant two, the game becomes similar to ninuki renju, with forbidden stone placement losses and edge case draws. Perhaps, I will add a third variant which incorporates the Boat rule, where a five mist be unbreakable (perfect) to count as a win to make it even more ninuki like.
Re: Connect6 Pente hybrid?
Posted:
Jun 30, 2026, 1:08 PM
Btw, I've played this variant (non-collinear moves, two at a time, 5 in a row, with and without captures) a couple of times IRL since then. It's fun =) But none of us became addicted to it, it didn't click, you know.
Re: Connect6 Pente hybrid?
Posted:
Jun 30, 2026, 1:14 PM
Yes, I know what you mean. I suppose if one likes connect 6 a lot, it might be more interesting. Did you get a sense of which side might have an advantage with captures? Without captures and swaps, itti said player two has an advantage.
Retired from rated TB Pente, but still playing live and TB variants
Re: Connect6 Pente hybrid?
Posted:
Jun 30, 2026, 4:32 PM
Frankly, I don't remember exactly. Maybe I recall it wrongly (we played several games and I may mess this one with some other) but it felt quite drawish from a certain point; maybe there is some advantage to be caught in the opening stage, maybe we are too weak to feel it but that's what I remember. Or maybe it was impression about Ujner?..
I'd say we end up with the idea that in the midgame and lategame the main winning idea is "forcing a foul", getting situation when you play two fours which your opp can't close because defending moves are collinear. Winning with a classic attack seemed almost impossible if your opp is accurate enough.
