Another Look at the Rules

There is some confusion about Ticgotac's rules so I will try to clarify them.

First, I have been thinking of Ticgotac as a blindingly simple game but the more I play it the more I think that I am the one who is blinded.  So let’s start by reviewing the rules of play:

First, the goal is to construct an unbroken line of either pegs or blocks from one side of the board to the opposite side.  That line can go horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Players take turns placing either a peg or a block almost anywhere on the board.  Almost is the key word here.

But before I talk about that “almost” there are two other things to be said.  First, if  putting pegs and blocks on the board was all there was to it, the first player would have a huge advantage and might win every time.  Second, Ticgotac allows you to capture and remove from the board pegs or blocks your opponent has already played.  That tends to even things out and make the game more interesting.

Here is how captures are done.

A dark and a light peg are on the board.  It is Dark’s turn and she places a peg at 

position A

                                           

  Light plays a peg at position B thereby surrounding Dark’s peg at A

 By surrounding Dark’s peg, light has captured it.  Light removes it from the board.

Light’s turn is complete.  The dot to the right of the board represents the dark peg captured by Light.