Welcome to the network Che server. The challenge command is described here.
Other commands are
the same as for all pbmserv games.
che challenge [-num_tiles=n] userid1
userid2
Starts a new game for two players.
The -num_tiles option specifies the number of tiles to play with (default is 48). Set to -1 or 999 for an unlimited tile supply.
Che is a boardless tile placement game in which players strive to form closed regions with Truchet tiles.
Rules
Two players, Light and Dark, share a common pool of duotone Truchet tiles. Each tile has inverted colours on the front and back and may be played oriented either left or right.
+---|---+ +---|---+
| \..| |../ |
Front __ \__ __/ __ (Light dominant)
|.\ | | /.|
|..\ | | /..|
+---|---+ +---|---+
+---|---+ +---|---+
|....\ | | /....|
Back __....\__ __/....__ (Dark dominant)
| \.....| |...../ |
| \....| |..../ |
+---|---+ +---|---+
Left Right
Play: Light places a tile of their choice on the playing area. Players then take turns placing two tiles of their choice squarely adjacent to at least one existing tile such that all neighbouring edge colours match (the two tiles being placed to not need to be adjacent themselves).
Aim: A player wins by completing a closed region of their colour, which may be any size or shape. If a move achieves this for both players then the mover loses.
+---|---+---|---+ |../ \..| __/ ___ \__ | /...\ | | /.....\ | + |...+...| + Dark wins this game | \...../ | __ \___/ __ |.\ /.| |..\ /..| +---|---+---|---+
If the tiles run out before either player wins, then the owner of the largest region wins. A region's size is given by the number of dominant tiles that it contains. For example, Light has the largest region (size 5) in the following game; Light would win this game if the tiles ran out at this point.
+---|---+
|../ |
__/ __
| /.|
| /..|
+---|---+ (...+ +---|---+---|---+
|....\ \..| |....\ \..|
__....\___ \_| __....\___ \__
| \.......\ | | \.......\ |
| \.......\ | | \.......\ |
+---|---+...\ +---|---+---|---+ \...+...\ +
|....\ \...../ \.......\ |
__....\___ \___/ ____ \___....\__
| \.......\ /....\ \.....|
| \.......\ /......\ \....|
+---|---+---|---+---|---+---|---+---|---+
Notes
It is generally better to play tiles of the opponent's dominant colour each turn.
Syntax
che move <game#> <userid> <passwd> d3 Play tile 'd' at position 3.
che move <game#> <userid> <passwd> d3,a2 Play tile 'd' at position 3 and tile 'a' at position 2.
[[che move <game#> <userid> <passwd> 6-c10 Move the tile numbered 6 and play it as tile 'c' at position 10.]]
Test Options
-tie_none If no region is closed when the tiles run out, then the game is tied (default off).
-tie_move If no region is closed when the tiles run out, then a tile is moved each turn (default off).
-tie_largest_wins If no region is closed when the tiles run out, then the owner of the largest group wins (default on).
-tie_largest_loses If no region is closed when the tiles run out, then the owner of the largest group loses (default off).
-num_free Sets the minimum number of free sides that a tile must have to be moved (default 1).
-free_corner Specifies that only tiles with a free corner can be moved (default off).
-placements=p Place p tiles per turn (default 2).
-single Only one tile may be played per turn (default off).
-pairs Two tiles must be played per placement turn, except for the opening move (default on).
-triples Three tiles must be played per placement turn, except for the first two moves (default off).
-adjacent Multiple tile placements must be adjacent to each other (default off).
-nonadjacent Multiple tile placements need not be adjacent to each other (default on).
-move_anytime Players may move a tile in lieu of placing tiles on their turn (default off).
-no_move_anytime Players may not move tiles before the tile pool runs out (default on).
If multiple tile placements are specified then 1 tile is played on the first move, 2 on the second move, etc. until the number of placements is reached.
If tile movement is allowed then the player may pick up an existing tile and place it elsewhere, provided that:
1) it was
not placed or moved on the last turn, and
2) its removal would not disconnect
the main group into two or more subgroups.
New Rules
The following options trigger new rules that improve the game:
-group_area=n
-group_extent=n
The group_area option inverts the winning condition so that the aim is to surround an enemy group, but a player loses if any friendly group reaches n tiles in area (counting dominant tiles). A player loses if their move achieves a win for both players.
The group_extent option triggers similar rules except that a player loses if any friendly group reaches n tiles in extent either horizontally or vertically (counting dominant tiles).
Recommended sizes are -group_area=16 and -group_extent=6.
History
Che rules copyright Cameron Browne © 2008.
The name “Che” is derived from the letters TRUCHET.
More details are available at the official Che page.
Implementation and Help file by Cameron Browne, March 2008.