Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 5, 2026, 1:38 PM
it's live, no mobile apps support, website only. There's a dedicated live server to play it on, or you can just play turn-based.
Tournament rule isn't active, and dead stones can be placed on all turns. You can play a real stone, a dead stone, either, or both. So you can experiment to your heart's content, ping for bugs, or when you reach some consensus on the flow you want, and I'll restrict the UX further so you don't have to click so much on each turn.
(a repost from what I posted in another thread, this is so I can refer to the details and track changes here)
Re: Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 11, 2026, 2:05 AM
Love it so far. Just a couple observations:
-The gray color isn't different enough to convince me that the stone isn't a normal black or white stone. I like the idea of trying red--perhaps a pale, less saturated red. Maybe outline with white or black depending on who placed the stone? Another idea: make the font color of the dead stone coordinates in the move list red.
-There appears to be some glitchy behavior when I place a move + dead stone, then try to backup and play a different move. Every time I try, the original move + dead stone reappears on the board, as if mocking me, and I can't change anything. (Windows PC + Firefox)
It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
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Re: Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 12, 2026, 11:47 PM
Karls new proposed rules.
Both have 1 dead stone each.
P1 can not place a Dead stone until P2 has placed one first.
P2's dead stone window rule is as follows:
Step 1- p2 must make 4 non-caprure moves total. It matters not if a capture move or moves happened inbetween said 4 non capture moves. Simply total 4. Step 2- for the next 3 moves p2 can place a dead stone, regardless of if capturing or not.
Once p2's dead stone has been placed, p1 now has 3 moves to place a dead stone, and regardless of if a capture move or not.
If P2 refuses to ever play a dead stone, then p1 can not either, and game plays out like regular pente.
The reasoning behind this, is to keep dead stones from interfering with 4 stone openings, and allow them around average time the mid game usually starts. AND the capture rule shifting where 5 6 7 is, is to prevent interference with the wedge capture landing.
A creative solution by karl, to solve both problems.
Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
Re: Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 13, 2026, 12:10 AM
Another option is to say p2's dead stone play is only enabled when p1 has between n and n+2 stones on the board, for some number n (my current choice is 4). This way, captures delay the introduction of the dead stone, but interestingly they can also reopen the window, if for example p2 makes their first capture on their 7th move. Both sides still only have one dead stone per game, and p1's rules don't change.
This also has the advantage of making it easier to track--simply count the white stones on the board, rather than counting moves and subtracting capturing moves.
It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
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Re: Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 13, 2026, 1:49 AM
Wait, I think you mean when there is 5 white stones on the board. Then p2 does 5th. Because white goes first. 5th move is where p2 can first put dead stone right? So its 5 white stones right? Or am I missing something.
Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
Re: Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 13, 2026, 3:48 AM
I think it's far from clear what the best window is right now, with such limited data. I think you and I agree it should be short (roughly 3 moves), and start at least after p1 has made their 4th move. Whether it's 4th, 5th, or 6th still requires play testing to determine.
In our sets, we're using 5 moves as the rule. It seems to be working well, which isn't to say 4 moves wouldn't work equally well.
It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
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Re: Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 13, 2026, 4:24 AM
Right agreed. Im just trying to get a "for the moment" standardized rule set to do, so I dont need to memorize many different rules sets with running sets with 6 people simultaneously. Assuming they would agree to the rule set. Some would i think. Its too chaotic for me to do too many rule variations all at once. So for now 5. And likely from there we can get a feel if it needs to go up or down.
Scire hostis animum - Intelligere ludum - Nosce te ipsum - Prima moventur conciliat - Nolite errare
Re: Tombstone Pente: details
Posted:
Nov 13, 2026, 4:12 PM
This is my current proposed ruleset, based on collaboration with zoey.
**5-7 Rule**
-p1 and p2 both start the game with one dead stone.
-p2 is allowed to play their dead stone only when there are between 5 and 7 white stones on the board.
-This includes positions where there were once >7 white stones, reduced to <7 after a p2 capture. In other words, p2 can re-enter eligibility after exiting if they remove enough stones from the board.
-p2 plays their dead stone immediately after their normal move, before p1 plays their move. The dead stone is essentially a hole in the board (doesn't count toward pente/making captures).
-After p2 plays a dead stone, p1 may play a dead stone, with the same rules, in any of the next 3 moves.
-Neither player is obligated to play a dead stone.
It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.
