[pbmserv] ninuki confusion

[Stephan Schroeder <flowingwater@earthlink.net>]

Maybe someone can clarify something for me.  I find the rules to Ninuki 
unclear.

Take a look at move 31 N14 of the game below (not my game, but I was 
watching it once in a while):

http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/Ninuki/Ninuki.php?866&html

Doesn't that form a double 3 (or better in this case) without forming a 5?

The game rules don't actually define a double 3.  That would probably help 
matters.

I suspect it has something to do with the white stone on J10 (or a 
bug).  In this particular game, even if black didn't already have a stone 
on Q11 (at the time of move 31), I don't think the white stone on J10 would 
make a difference to the outcome.  (I have one game played in this variant, 
so I could be wrong.)  So, I assume the white stone on J10 makes this not a 
3-3?  That seems silly because the formation is just as dangerous without 
it and a sure win for black anyway.  This might, nevertheless, be the 
intention of the rules.

Please note that within the rules 
(http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/ninuki.html), a link to more information 
(http://renju.nu/r1rulhis2.htm) does not work.

I found via google that (http://renju.se/r1rulhis2.htm) has something, 
which I have to guess is similar or even the same, but that doesn't add 
much of value to understanding of the game rules.

56 of the 88 players in the Ninuki standings have 0 wins. I might consider 
people playing until they win one perhaps the most minimal retention rate 
for a game.  The ratio here is very poor compared to other games' standings 
I've looked at on the server (I have done far from an extensive survey, I 
admit).  I can only speculate as to the reason.  Perhaps the auto first 
move is counted as an actual move and doesn't let the first player resign, 
so many unwanted games tally losses instead.  But that wouldn't stop people 
from eventually playing again until they won one.

Maybe the rules are confusing to others besides myself.  I realize it is 
not the job of gamerz.net's help pages to get me to want to play the games 
it offers or necessarily to explain why the rules exist as they do.  But 
perhaps any fans of this game might consider improving the presentation as 
to what the rules actually are.  Because they come across as overwrought 
and unclear with tricky loopholes in practice to the novice player.