MindSports
Glass Bead Game
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About
Rules
Games
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Strategy
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1 The House
2 Direct capture
3 Indirect capture
4 Delayed direct
5 Delayed indirect
6 Tempo
7 A big mistake
8 A correct defense
10 Endgame part 2
11 Endgame part 3
12 Endgame part 4
13 Endgame part 5


The Endgame 1

We're approaching the endgame. North has just moved c000 and attacks pit A with both pit e and pit d. A counter attack by moving pit D doesn't fix the problem because there's no symmerty: north would take 5 points from south's cup, while south would only capture the last 1 point gem in play. Press PLAY to see it happen.

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In the final position we're in the formal endgame: player's now may leave the opponent without a move. South appears to have tempo under control, but what's the use? North has 17 points and is in no danger of being 'emptied', since this would mean a win for him! There's another catch: in order to employ his tempo at all, south would have to sow pit B first, leaving it empty. North can use his tempo to wait till south is forced to sow pit A. If he adds another stone to pit e before that, south faces a double indirect capture, otherwise at least a single one, reducing him to 8 points. What are the alternatives for a counter capture?

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