Since people can't seem to grasp this I will make it as SIMPLE as possible (since some of you have said you like the SIMPLICITY of "fun-pente")

DOES ANYONE DOUBT THAT PLAYER 1 has an advantage in this game????????? Does anyone really doubt that having the extra stone gives player 1 a sizeable advantage?

Well, to have NO restriction for player 1 when player 1 has an OBVIOUS advantage (the extra stone) is just ASININE!

To me, saying that no restriction is necessary is the same as saying that having the extra stone is not an advantage. Well, that defies logic and reason!

I can't make it any simpler than that.

I keep hearing people say "Well, I have won as player 2 without the restriction." Sure, against a WEAK PLAYER, but not likely against an equally matched player! What does beating up on weak players prove? NOTHING!

For all those who are yammering on about liking the extra challenge of trying to win as player 2 WIOUT the restriction, I will again repeat myself:

I play at a 95%- 97% clip as player 1 WITh the restriction. That sounds like more than enough challenge for all you challenge seekers out there who usew that as a reason for having the variant without the restriction.

One more thought-- there really are only about 5 people making any noise about the restriction being added to the small boards. If this is ruining the fun for people,where are all these people saying "Hey, what happneed to the bvariant that I liked?" Well, weo don't heat them. SO, while those 5 noisemakers are claiming that Gary and I are trying to impose our will on everyone, we cuoud say the same right back at that small group.

I keep hearing that it is the NON-serious players who would be most affected by this change. This is a blatant contradiction. A Non-serious player would not take the game seriously enouhg to actually CARE about the opening rules.