Help For Gonnect

Introduction

Welcome to the network Gonnect server. The rules of Gonnect are below. The commands are the same for all pbmserv games.

This game was invented by Joćo Pedro Neto in the year 2000.

The Rules of Gonnect

Object of the Game

On a 13x13 board, the two players of Gonnect try to be the first to create a connected chain of stones between any two opposite board sides (east-west or north-south) or his adversary has no valid move.

Movement Rules

The rules of Go apply except that players cannot pass.

On your turn, you place a piece of your colour wherever you desire on the board.

Eks move first.

          A B C D E F G H J K L M N 
      13  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
      12  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
      11  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
      10  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
       9  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
       8  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       7  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       6  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       5  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       4  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
       2  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
       1  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
          A B C D E F G H J K L M N 

              Figure 1 -- Empty Gonnect Board

There is also the PIE rule: Ohs may choose as his 1st move, to exchange places with Eks

Connection Examples

        . . . . . .        . . . . . .
        . . . . x .        . . . . o .
        . . . . x .        . . . o . o
        . . . x x .        . . o . . .
        . x x x x .        . o . . . .
        . . . . . .        . . . . . .

Connections are just like Go connections, i.e., diagonal pieces are not connected. In the left example, the eight 'x' stones are connected. However, in the right example, the five 'o' stones are not connected to each other.

Some Notes

Black cannot make the best 1st move (possibly playing at tengen, the board center), because White would use the PIE rule to exchange positions.

Notice that the "No pass" rule, together with the "No suicide" rule, implies that there is no safe uncapturable two hole structures, since sooner or later a player needs to fill them in order to keep moving.

Small boards (9x9 or less) would give too much advantage for Black. I would suggest a 15x15 board for some nice and quick games, or the standard 19x19 board for deeper battles.