I would like to see the "swap" version of 5-in-line at BK. The swap completely takes away 1st player`s advantage and would require only VERY little modifications to the current version.
The swap-version is simply regular 5-in-line with 2. player having an option of choosing whether he wants to play as black or white after total of 3 moves have been made. I personally think that 2nd player`s 1st move should be restricted so that it cannot be made OUTSIDE the same 5x5 center square inside which 1st player`s 2nd move cannot be made in Pente or pro-gomoku. Without this restriction player 2 could make his first move into 1 of the corners and get the advantage to himself.
Even in pro-gomoku the 1. players advantage is very big, but not so with the swap.
Let`s hear some comments...especially about the restriction for 2. player which I proposed here.

At my request, Fencer has just fixed the standings in section one. Jason and nicegirll both are now declared winners.
A great final coming up after Duke and I have finished our games in section2.

Player Sowa has not used the 2. move restriction in at least 3 of his tournament games as white in section 2 of the tournament.

This is against the rules of the tournament and therefore, all games played by him and against him will not be a part of this tournament. I will manually count the points in section 2 and if this produces a different section winner than the automatic system, I will arrange a real final for the real section winners.

Those who are playing against Sowa in the tournament can continue their games or resign them early, when it should not affect the ratings. In any case, those games are no longer a part of the tournament and will not affect who will be announced as the winner.

...is about to start!
I want to remind all players that the 2. move restriction for white must be used in all games.
If some player doesn`t use the restriction I will manually count the points leaving out all games played against that player, and if necessary, arrange a new final round into which the "real" finalists will be invited.

Good luck to everybody.

It is time to find out who is the best five-in-line player at Brainking. To avoid "surewin" -moves the 2. move restriction (like in Pro Gomoku) will be used for player1 (white). If you are not familiar with this restriction you can find it explained in rules description for Pente. All five-in-line players in Top25 have been invited (including provisional ratings). If anybody outside the top25 feels like he/she deserves to be playing in the tournament, feel free to ask me for an invite. Games start 16.1. so that pawns will have time to finish their on-going games.