RE: [pbmserv] ninuki confusion

["Mark and Sharon Mammel" <msmammel@verizon.net>]

I agree that the rules are confusing. Here is an updated link:
http://www.renju.net/study/rifrules.php

And another page which may be more helpful
http://www.renju.net/study/rules.php

Here is the definition of a three:
A row with three stones to which you, without at the same time a five in a
row is made, can add one more stone to attain a straight four. 

The move 31 N14 is not a double three, it is a four-three which is allowed.
A line is a three if it has three and only three stones.

Renju is an enjoyable game but it does take some study and practice to
understand the rules. 
_Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pbmserv-users@gamerz.net [mailto:owner-pbmserv-users@gamerz.net]
On Behalf Of Stephan Schroeder
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 5:55 AM
To: PBeM Server Mailing List
Subject: [pbmserv] ninuki confusion

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.


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