User talk:Mattj2/sandbox/Arimaa rules simple

I have added "rotation pass step" which confused me in original rules. Then I stopped direct editting ...

"Stronger pieces can freeze" ... I am not sure with it ... they cannot chose ... should not it be "Stronger pieces freeze".

I don't think immobilised piece is a term important for the rules.

Sentence: If a piece is on a trap square and it is not next to any friendly pieces it is immediately captured and permanently removed from the game. Seems incorrect to me ... "any pieces"?

Last capture case ... the cat is captured before the dog moves Hippo.69 (talk) 12:57, 8 May 2013 (UTC)

Another point of view is dividing pieces to friend groups and loners. Pieces from friend groups are not frozen and can stay in traps while loners are vulnerable both to captures and freezing.

Hippo.69 (talk) 13:07, 8 May 2013 (UTC)

If two pieces of different colors touch each other, we the weaker one is said to be dominated by the stronger one.

I expect most of top players think turn based rather to step based. For turn based view there is much more ways to capture/suicide.

But important thing is to know which patterns are capture safe (for one turn) and which are not: If a player has 3 pieces touching trap, the opponent cannot capture in the trap.

If a player has 2 pieces touching trap, the capture is possible only when the guards are dominated by two different pieces (The condition is required, but not sufficient as freezing or occupied places could prevent capture). The position with 2 weak guards is called false protection.

If a player has a piece in trap, no other piece could be captured in the trap.

If a player has just one piece touching empty trap, no other piece could be captured in the trap.

If no player piece touches trap, capture is possible only if there is his dominated piece 2 steps away. (Of course this is required, but not sufficient condition. Nondominating pieces in the path could prevent capture, occupied places could prevent capture even in the case dominating piece is on the path to trap)

Very common capture in the case of twice guarded trap is two turn capture framing one of the pieces first turn and dislodging the other the following turn. Framing means putting piece to the trap and blocking it there such that it cannot leave the trap.

I agree ... step based definition is best in rules, turn based thinking is more advanced.

Hippo.69 (talk) 13:42, 8 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks Hippo! I'm glad you pointed out about "immobilization" not belonging in the rules.  I wasn't sure myself, but now that you said you don't like it I'm removing it.  Immobilization is not a "rule" but it is a result of the rules.
 * You said: "I agree ... step based definition is best in rules, turn based thinking is more advanced."
 * Yes, it's more advanced. I think also that "rules" tell you how the pieces move and tactics or strategy tell you whether a move is good or bad.
 * I forgot that you wrote a bot! Maybe what is a "rule" for your bot is "tactics" for a person?  In any case, I think "rules" tell you actually how the pieces move.  Step, push, pull, freeze, capture.  I think anything more complicated than that is either tactics or strategy.  The Wikipedia page should definitely have information about trap control!  I just think it should be under tactics or strategy, not "rules."
 * Ok I edited the page to make some of the changes you said. I don't have energy to respond to everything, but thanks for all your comments and I hope you'll keep editing!
 * Mattj2 (talk) 06:52, 9 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes I agree the turn based ... captures were inspired by your step based captures discussion which was not important for rules as well. Hippo.69 (talk) 17:48, 10 May 2013 (UTC)

Capturing
Here are examples suicidal pushes and pulls which are actually best moves for corresponding players (goal in 1 for an active player). There are possible one step to trap suicides of gold c2 rabbit, and silver c7 cat and b3 elephant. There is possible suicide of gold f3 elephant by leaving with the g3 rabbit and similarly of f6 cat by leaving with the e6 rabbit. Gold could capture push the c7 cat to trap with the c8 dog. Gold could capture pull silver f2 horse by f3 elephant to the f3 trap. Gold could capture the silver f6 cat by pulling or pushing the e6 rabbit with the e5 cat, silver could capture the gold f3 elephant by pushing or pulling the g3 rabbit with the h3 dog. Finally the best move for silver here is suiciding pull of gold a3 cat with the b3 elephant. The a2 rabbit goals next step. And the best move for gold here is suicidal push of the cat out of the f6 trap sacrifying the dog there. The g7 rabbit goals in the same turn two steps later. Hippo.69 (talk) 18:28, 10 May 2013 (UTC)