I'm new to Pente, I got a game in the classic red tube as a gift from a friend, and I have to say that I love the game. It is simply the most fun strategy game I have ever played. (and that includes chess!)
However, I'm not real good at the game. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of any places that cover the games strategy, and how to think properly.
Specificly, I am looking for anything that details good opening moves for both white and black, and various shapes to look for that can bring a forced win when played on properly.
Also, if anyone has any tips on the game, by all means, enlighten me. So far it seems to me that the best strategy is to gain the offensive as soon as possible, and then keep on the offensive so that you can force the other player to move into positions that you want them to move into. However, I'm having one heck of a time wrapping my mind around how to achieve the elusive dual open three's without relying strictly on luck.
To learn good opening moves, I would suggest using the Game Database, you can enter in any opening and see if its any good by seeing if others have played it and what # and percentage of them won. Also, Mark Mammel has a good Pente page with a word document listing a bunch of common openings, the link to his site is under "Pente Links" on DSG.
Gaining the offensive as soon as possible is usually a good strategy, especially for beginners. Lastly, play some games at DSG, that is probably the most proven method of learning the game!
Thanks Dweebo. Since I got you responding to me, I should tell you that I love the site. I just recently found it, and if I had any money I would kick some in to you.
I guess I should explain, I'm in the hurricane Katrina area. In fact the eye of the hurricane went directly on top of my town. After the hurricane a friend of mine introduced me to Pente and gave me a copy of the game. I loved it right away, and when I got power back on, I immediatly started looking for strategy information on the game.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for creating such a cool site. I have gone through and looked at the database quite a bit. Your site has been a fantastic distraction from the rest of what is going on in my life right now. I lost my job due to flooding, and I am a disabled Army vet, so it is very difficult to find jobs that I can physically do even with accomedations.
Normally I wouldn't thank someone for something that we all normally take for granted, but I've needed something to keep my mind off of life lately. Thanks for providing that through your website. As stupid as this may sound, coming to your website and browsing the forums, database, and playing the AI or real players has kept me from starting to drink or do drugs like a lot of people are around here, and has helped keep my mind at least somewhat sharp.
Right when I posted that I realised that I had actualy played the game before, only on a Go board. I saw the date that I had actually registered with this site and wanted to thump myself on the head.
Needless to say, things have seemed a bit muddled lately. I just forgot about the game untill my friend Charlie re-introduced me to it.
Another resource for Pente strategy if you are able to find them are a couple of books on Pente strategy written back in the 80s by Tom Braunlich. They are out of print but can sometimes be requested through an interlibrary loan or occasionally pop up for sale on ebay. The game positions and strategies have evolved since the time they were written, primarily due to sites such as this one, but those books do provide information which will definitely help to give you a solid foundation in the game. Playing and learning from some of the best players around here will fine tune things for you. I think for me personally, finding a few players who are enough better than you are that they can teach you well, but not so much better that everything goes right over your head is probably about the right balance. Also, finding someone who is willing to talk you through positions in an unrated game can also be very effective. Hope this helps, Tom
Retired from TB Pente, but still playing live games & exploring variants like D, poof and boat
