Help For Trellis

Introduction

Welcome to the network Trellis server. The rules of Trellis are below. The Trellis "challenge" command has the following options. Other commands are the same for all pbmserv games.

trellis challenge [-size=number] userid1 userid2

 

Start a new game between userid1 and userid2.

 

The -size parameter sets the size of the nxn board. The range is n = 7..19 (odd numbers only) with the default being a 15x15 board.

 

 

Trellis is a connection game played on a checkered board.

More details about Trellis including the complete official rules can be found at http://home.fuse.net/swmeyers/trellis.htm

Implementation by Cameron Browne, March 2003.

Object of the game:

The vertical player (V) aims to connect the top and bottom edges of the board with a chain of V pieces, while the horizontal player (H) aims to connect the left and right sides of the board with a chain of H pieces.

Board layout:

Below is a standard 15x15 game won by Vert, who has completed a chain of their pieces from top to bottom.

   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O

15  --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  15
   | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - |
14  --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  14
   | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : |
13  --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- ---V---V--- --- --- ---  13
   | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - |
12  --- --- --- --- --- ---V---V---V--- --- ---V--- --- ---  12
   | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : |
11  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V --- --- ---  11
   | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - |
10  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- ---  10
   | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : |
 9  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- ---  9
   | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - |
 8  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- ---  8
   | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : |
 7 H---H---H---H---H---H---H---H---H---V--- --- --- --- ---  7
   | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - |
 6  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V---H---H---H---H---H---H 6
   | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : |
 5  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- --- --- ---  5
   | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - |
 4  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- --- --- ---  4
   | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : |
 3  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- --- --- ---  3
   | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - |
 2  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- --- --- ---  2
   | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : | - | : |
 1  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---V--- --- --- --- --- ---  1

   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O

Note that dark squares (denoted by ':') belong to Vert and light squares (denoted by '-') belong to Horz. Connections follow orthogonally adjacent lines between points ('|' and '---') as well as conditional connections: each player connects diagonally across their squares.

Horz has not won in the above example because their connection is broken at I7-J6 where it crosses a Vert square. No diagonal connection exists for Horz across this square but a diagonal connection does exist for Vert, giving Vert the win.

Movement:

One or two pieces can be placed on empty board points per turn, provided that if two pieces are played then they are three points apart (either a knight's move from each other or in a line). For instance, if Vert plays V (below) they can then place a second piece at any of the points marked x.

Move Notation

Moves are specified as follows: