BoardSpace.net

ids · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Hi, I was testing some algorithms for playing Gobblet and I discovered, that SmartBot doesn't obbey the official rules - they state, that "if you put a new gobblet in play, you must place it on an empty square. However, there is one exception to this rule: if your opponent already has 3 gobblets in a row on the board, you may gobble up 1 of the 3 pieces in the line with a gobblet taken directly from one of your external stacks."

However, if you take a look at the saved game called GB-SmartBot-ids-2007-07-11-1407.sgf, SmartBot's move number 25, it places a new piece on field C4, which is neither empty, nor part of a row of three black gobblets. Am I right?

admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 690

nope. The row of three is C1 C2 C4

ids · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

How about C3? I thought it has to be a continuous row...

admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 690

no, any 3 is a threat to win in 1 move

ids · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Thanks for explanation! Smile

ids · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Just another similar question: it seems that on BoardSpace I am able to gobble up my own pieces directly from the external stack, but this is not allowed by the rules. You have to play on an empty square with the exception discussed in the previous posts.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 690

you may be right about that. I'll ask Thierry for a ruling.

ids · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Well I already asked Blue Orange Games (the publisher of Gobblet) about this rule and they replied you can gobble up your own piece from the external stack. However, it is not stated in the rules.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 690

According to the inventor, you are right. I'll change the applet.