Shouldn't be randomly I think, then u r much too dependent on what piece the server (computer) takes away.....should then be yr opponent who has the abillity to take away 1 piece after eacht fifth move....Then I think that u will get a lot of draws (which are very rare in the normal Spiderline games) because it is then easy to block the threats of yr opponent and try to craete a new one by yourself but after the 5th move that one is blocked too...do draw at the end...Black picks away a piece and will put one down itself...1 piece ahead for five moves but black was already in defense...so it will be a game of blocking till there are no squares left...at least that is what I think of it. You often need a key move to win in a forced way and when that one is taken away and also filled with an oppent piece you can start all over again and likewise for Black 5 moves later.I will have to test it, if it is true what I am saying, but good players will draw I think. But you can create the game and M4tt and I will test it...no problem!

Thanks Nugsson and do you know from whom M4tt learned the game? Yes, me, lol! And I, myself learned it from studying the games from the early tourney winners at IYT from the year 1999 and 2000. I also think (When I play concentrated) I know every forced win for White (Purple) You can only lose with White while making a big mistake. Anyway I know a huge lot of forced wins what makes the game less interesting for me nowadays (some winning sequences already appeared in hundreds of my games and that is getting pretty boring, when u know u r gonna win but it still have to take 6 moves or so...) and are retiring soon (from IYT).

I meant of course that Spiderline4, or Stack 4x4 isn't that much of a challenge to me anymore....Matt knows what I mean....we know way too much theory and forced wins even after move 3 or 4! Then the following 6 till 10 moves are no fun........

Spiderline 5, or Stack 5x5 on a 12x12 board would be very interesting!! Then, new theories will have to be found out!! I'd love to try that one out (a 10 games exhibition match, Matt?!) lol
Would be a challenge as Spiderline 5 isn't that much of a challenge anymore for me, except against the best (no offense)........

Yeah m8 Matt, keep on beating me and like I already said, keep them all connected, not only on the board! Liverpool F.C. and P.S.V. rule!!

My dearest friend Matt, wants either to get a discussion about the game or uses the famous English humour! His message sounds a bit arrogant, but I can tell you he is NOT, I am though, lol

Matt, keep them all connected!

Stefan, (former rival)

Just play a lot, try to learn from your mistakes and not making them twice! (StackMaster knows what I mean, lol) Try to understand what certain positions are all about and what the key squares are........and don't miss force wins if they are there. Play not too aggressive when you are playing black! Defend first and counter only when the time is right, but you can only learn by experience when it is that right time...) Do not replay the games of the best too much because if your opponent makes another move you just don't know what the position is about and you'll probably lose..... Making notes on the games is recommendable! Put your fisrt piece always on the same place eg e1!
I did all this and it ended up so far with 32 tourney wins at www. itsyourturn.com, which noone ever achieved and 2400+ points here but that doesn't say that much I think.......

Regards,
Stefan