Hrqls: The game will end when a person is NOT able to make another move. So if your opponent moves, you will still get a move - since in theory you might open up a space for them to move. If you don't, and then the game will go back to them - see no move is possible - and the game will end.

This is how I BELIEVE it should work - 95% sure..... but not 100% sure.

coan.net: Any other opinions about Dark Ataxx? I think this would be a pretty unique variant.

You can only see the squares that are directly next to your own piece. This could allow a player to make some jumps to attack early without being seen, or setting back with a good defense without being seen.

Moves like normal - you can clone your piece into any surrounding space.

SPECIAL RULE - You can "Jump" like normal 2 spaces into a dark square. The special rule is if you jump onto your opponents piece, you lose the piece. If you jump into an open space, your piece stays there like normal, along with changing any surrounding pieces to your color.

special end-game rule: If there is no longer any visible spaces to move your pieces, game is over. Unlike in ataxx if you can jump to a free space you must, since all these will be hidden - the game will end.

joshi tm: Well I know I'm not the most skilled at many games - and having the board "dark" I feel gives me more of a chance against skilled players who may already know how to beat me on move 5.

A "dark" board will allow me a chance to make some unexpected moves in the hopes to throw the other player off.

I've been thinking about this one for awhile, and think it would be a nice addition to the Ataxx game (A some-what popular game, in the top 25% of games played at this site!)

Dark Ataxx

You can only see the squares that are directly next to your own piece. This could allow a player to make some jumps to attack early without being seen, or setting back with a good defense without being seen.

Moves like normal - you can clone your piece into any surrounding space.

SPECIAL RULE - You can "Jump" like normal 2 spaces into a dark square. The special rule is if you jump onto your opponents piece, you lose the piece. If you jump into an open space, your piece stays there like normal, along with changing any surrounding pieces to your color.

special end-game rule: If there is no longer any visible spaces to move your pieces, game is over. Unlike in ataxx if you can jump to a free space you must, since all these will be hidden - the game will end.

What do others think about this variant?

joshi tm:

Well for Anti Ataxx, there would have to be some more special rules - otherwise at the end of the game, if I had the last move, I wouldn't just "clone" a piece to take the last spot, but I would jump - making my opponent take the next shot. (And if he was smart, he would do the same) - making an endless loop of each player making the opponent take the last/next move. Then would the rule be capturing the most, or any piece? If so, on my first piece, i would jump out in the middle to make my opponent capture it, and then try to do the same with my 2nd piece, and let the game end after 4 moves. Maybe I'm not playing it correctly in my head - but someone would need to sit down with a board and play some test games to see how anti-ataxx would work.

Ataxx 9x9 - no opinion.

Ataxx variant - clone orthogonally - jump L's or diagonally. Not sure what clone orthogonally - but can't we already jump L's or diagonally? I think i'm lost on this idea.

MadMonkey: Your opponenet would not get a chance to pass. They would have 1 more move, then after that the game would be over since they would no longer be able to play, and at that point - the player with the most pieces (you) will win.

I agree with the rule, it makes the game interesting - kind of like chess - you can be killing the person and have 10 pieces left, while the other player just has their king left - but if you mess up and not place them in check and they have no legal move, it is a stalemate (draw) since they are unable to move - even though you should win, just one of those rules you have to be carefull on... just like here - if you are going to block your opponent in, make sure you have more pieces then they do.