Glass Bead Game
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About
Strategy
Games
Read Me
Rules
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Movement & Capture
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The Rules
(2: Object &
Endgame)
To illustrate capture let's make a few moves from the initial position without asking
strategical questions as yet. Pits are identified by the letters A to E for South and
a to e for north. A move is noted down by the pit and the sequence. Stones are
identified as '0'. Press PLAY to start.
South4 E1000 would have captured a green gem in pit d. It's not a multiple
capture, because pit c contains a stone, not a gem, and direct & indirect capture don't mix.
Nevertheless, why doesn't South make this move? And why does he play 4 C304 instead,
exposing the blue gem in pit D to capture by north's pit e?
The answer is: strategy.
You don't go for the small stuff. Sacrificing a gem or two is well worth the investment if
it allows you to eventually sow a
house, a pit containing enough
beads to go all around and into the opponent's pits once again.
But before I come to that I'll return to the rules with an obvious question:
what happens if the player to move faces five empty pits?
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If a player empties his last pit while there are still gems in play, the opponent on his next
turn is obliged to feed him at least one bead.
Endgame
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When all gems have been captured, the endgame starts.
With only stones in play, indirect capture from the opponent's cup is the only means to alter
the score. Players now are no longer under the obligation to feed an opponent who ran out of
beads, but quite contrary find it their prime target, provided they have enough points.
Object
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A player can win only in the endgame. He does so when he has at
least 15 points
and his opponent, to move, has no beads in any of his pits. Emptying the opponent while
having less than 15 points is not illegal, but loses the game. Draws cannot occur.
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