Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83 (MC840302); site ttds.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!mcvax!enea!ttds!roland
From: roland@ttds.UUCP (Roland Karlsson)
Newsgroups: net.sources.games
Subject: help with noughts and crosses
Message-ID: <1051@ttds.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Nov-85 14:08:27 EST
Article-I.D.: ttds.1051
Posted: Fri Nov  8 14:08:27 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Nov-85 05:38:53 EST
Reply-To: roland@ttds.UUCP (Roland Karlsson)
Organization: The Royal Inst. of Techn., Stockholm
Lines: 56

Ooops.

It seams like i have distributed my noughts and crosses game to parts of
the world that is not familiar with it.  Therefore i will send you this
small posting with instructions.

The instructions are easy.  You have x (cross) and the computer have
o (nought).  The goal is to get 5 (or more) diagonally, horizontally or
vertically. For help (on move input formats etc.) just type help. Some
of the commands are for debugging only. Test them and i don't think there
will be any problems to see which.

The secret of winning this game is to get a double threat.  That is, a
threat to win in more than one direction.

	    . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	    . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	    . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	    o x x x . d . . . . . . .
	    . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	    . . . . . . . x . . . . .
	    . . . . . . . . x . . . .
	    . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	    . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	    . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In the above diagram have x a double threat in the position marked with a d.

Try to make moves that permits you to make a double threat in the next move.

An other secret is initiative. Don't let your opponent grab initiative
permanently. (S)he will then have an easy win.

Don't use your fours (o x x x 4 . . ) to early.  They shall be used to make
double threats.

The program will always make a double threat if there is one and you don't
have a better threat. It will never miss that you have a single or a double
threat. Soo.. to win you HAVE to think some moves ahead.

It is a great advantage to start the game.

I don't know of any books in English that describes the game. There are some
in Swedish and lots in Japanese. The name of the game in Japanese is Renju
and it is slightly different.

	Hope this will help you.

==============================================================================
		Have a nice day wishes:
		Roland Karlsson  (roland@ttds)
		Dpt. of Telecomm. & Computer Systems
		Royal Institute of Technology
		S-100 44 Stockholm
		SWEDEN
==============================================================================