| Lines of Action (LOA) is a connection game, albeit a non-typical one. Claude Soucie invented it around 1960. Sid Sackson described it in his first edition of 'A Gamut of Games' (1969). Play LOA interactively | ||||||
Rules
The game is played on a chess board. Some players, like us, prefer a monochromatic board. There are two players, White and Black. Each player has twelve men, shown in the initial position.
- Black moves first, after which players alternate moves.
- A player to move must move one of its pieces. A move takes place in a straight line (along files, ranks, or diagonals), exactly as many squares as there are pieces of either colour anywhere along the line of movement.
- A player may jump over its own pieces, but not land on them.
- A player may not jump over the opponent's pieces, but can capture them by landing on them.
Object
- The goal of a player is to form one connected group with all of its pieces. The first player to do so is the winner. Connected pieces are on squares that are adjacent through the king's move in chess.
- A single piece is a connected group.
- If a move simultaneously creates a single connected unit for both players, it is a draw.There's some discussion regarding this rule. Claude Soucie sought to eliminate draws, but the draw rule is now most widely used.
- A player who cannot legally move must pass.
- 3-fold is a draw.
External links
LOA © Claude Soucie