Tablut tourney...

http://brainking.com/en/Tournaments?trg=12917&tri=78387&trnst=0

Thats a really great site snigfarp

I don't believe white does have the advantage. I think its fairly equal, just different tactics for each colour.

It would be interesting, mikky, especially if the pieces were made to look like the film characters
But to put it back as black would give too much of an advantage I think?

Fwiffo: I really don't see it being appropriate to post that. For one thing, the person who was banned might not appreciate it - and they can't post to say if they disagree or not. For another thing, to put it bluntly, it isn't anybody elses business. If you're missing a person posting - PM them and ask why. It may be that they've been on holiday or busy. This is a board for discussion about tablut, not who is banned and why.

I PM'd 2 people but I guess too many are curious here to not talk about it.
BBW did a great job, if I'd have logged on to see that kind of language here I would have been furious.
Its my decision how long the ban is enforced, and I have to say, the language used does not make me want to unban him in a hurry - that, along with the fact that this isn't the first time it's happened.

Now, could we get back to tablut please?

Ughaibu's posts are unhidden now. There was a very good reason for them being hidden in the first place.

Thats right, you cannot use the throne to capture pawns.

Invite any time, I'm always up for a game of tablut!

BTW, if you'd like a few unrated games to start you off I'll be happy to play.

A) Thats right

B) right

C&D - you cna't use the throne to capture pawns, but if the king is against the throne, then it only needs to be surrounded on the remaining three sides to be captured.

Pawn Reaper, I asked that same question when I started playing. I believe it vaies from country to country. Some pople put a hard 't' on the end, "tab-luT", similar to tablet, and others (like myself) pronounce it the same as you, "tab-loo". As far as I know there is no definite pronunciation, but I could be wrong!

You still need to cover that as an exit, Bumble. The king can still pass over the throne if they're not surrounded!

Hi frs. Black doesn't have to physically block the other side of the throne do gain a win that way. If the king is surrounded on three sides, with the throne on the fourth, it is a win for black. Even if there is an opening on the other side of the throne.

Maybe its only if you move a king into a square where you would be surrounded on 3 sides?

When I look at that game I see 2 green squares. C5 and D4. I also notice it shows your opponent has captured 2 of your pieces on that move, which wasn't possible.
In fact, you have 16 pieces on the board, but it shows 4 captured.
Apart from that, great game!

Yes, I have! Thats what happened in this game.

I thought the green square may be because she moved to a position where she was surrounded on 3 sides? Can you recall what move prompted your green square? I'm wondering if its like a warning that capture is possible on the next move.

In game number 390199, my opponent moved her king to an empty space. The square turned green, and its showing at the top as though she took one of my pieces, which shouldn't be possible.
I've never seen a green highlighted square before! Whats going on?

Songbird, when you go on the game, go below the board and it should have a button there for you to submit your move.
The problem is that it is your turn, yet you have no pieces to move, so you must pass your move to your opponent so they can make the final move.

I don't mind the rules about repeating. Sure its frustrating, and most people feel that white has the advantage anyway, and this is just one more plus for playing as white. But if the black player is good enough I think it can probably be avoided in most games.
But then again, I had never heard of tablut before I came here, I haven't really studied it and ughaibu is definitely a far superior player to me!

LMAO runningwolf!!!

I think one of the biggest mistakes made when playing black is to take your eyes off the king. Its easy to be distracted by other things happening, so the king sneaks away!

As white, probably one of the biggest mistakes is to lose too many pieces early on. You have less pieces than black so have to use them strategically.

Maybe one of the better players can go into this in more depth?

No, because a black piece could never get next to the king if he was to be taken every time!

No, cm5127, the king cannot participate in capturing a black piece. :o)

I'm not one for statistics usually, its interesting to read that but I had no idea how many games I'd won/lost as which colour!

I guess white is easier to play, but I find it far more rewarding to play black. I enjoy playing black more.

Maybe its psychological? White is 'on the run' and black is the 'hunter'.
White is looking for a way to escape, it has to divert attention and look for a gap. Where black has to watch the king constantly, never taking his eyes off it, gradually closing in while not submitting to the trickery of white!
Its easier to make a mistake as black, and therefore lose the game. Where losing as white can depend on luck sometimes.
Yes, it is FAR more satisfying to win as black! It feels like you won through skill, where winning as white can often feel like luck!

Ahh!! Thats worth keeping in mind when I'm playing! How strange! I had always assumed my opponenet saw the board as I did!

Do you know I really dont know! I think Fencer would have to answer that. I would guess both players see the board from the same angle?

Sorry, ughaibu, I dont know the game shogi. I'll have to look that one up.

As far as I know, and can see, there is no way for black to force a draw. But I still dont see that white has the advantage because of this! Or maybe its just that I like the challenge of black! But to my thinking, in any game, if I play white and my king escapes then that is lucky. It is a mistake made by black.

The only rule I'm not keen on is one I have stated before. When white is surrounded at the throne on three sides (with the throne being on the fourth), if white has an escape OVER the throne it should be allowed!

Yes, white can force a draw and its very frustrating!! But it can be done.

I haven't really looked at percentages, but personally I DO find it easier to play as black. But some people swear white has the advantage.

If whites pieces are surrounded then black would have to move one piece to allow white to make the final move, then black could move in and take the final piece. Many player as white keep a 'stray' piece along the side. As black closes in on the king, white positions itself around the king so black cannot take the final piece for a win.
So begins a 'cat and mouse' with the stray piece. Once this is captured white is forced to move a piece covering the king, and black wins.
Its really just a way for white to draw out the game, and maybe some vague hope that black will make a mistake and move a piece to capture the stray that will enable their king to escape.

Maybe your opponenet would be good enough to resign the game if you've won? Or... capture all the other pieces so the king cannot move at all.

These are just suggestions until Fencer gets around to sorting it for you. Obviously there is a problem within the game that needs attention.

Really sorry about that on the other board, I had thought you were discussing a tablut game for its merit, not a specific problem :o(

:o) I'm not saying you shouldn't have won Whisperz!! It was a perfectly valid win which I would have done myself in your position.
I just think the rules could be improved upon by allowing white to make a legal move through the centre square to avoid capture.

It happened! Congrats to Whisperz, you won fair and square.. but Fencer, have a look at game 53378, I still had a legal move for my king to make. Maybe the rules should be revised?

Fencer, it states in the rules that if the king is surrounded on 3 sides, and the thrown is on the fourth side, black wins.
But what if the king has an opening behind him, over the throne and to safety? Is that fair? Its still a legal move, and I think black should have to block that exit for the king too. Just a thought! I'm in a similar position now, and I may lose this game in these circumstances.

You're so right!! We say a lot of things differently! It feels more natural to me to say it as 'tab-loo', I might stick with that if it doesn't offend anyone!

stromovous.. so you'd say the 'ut' like the end of 'put'? Sounds strange! It would sound much nicer said as 'tabloo', silent 't'!!!
Thanks, saves me wondering!!!

Does anyone know how you pronounce Tablut? Is it "tab - loo" or "tay - blue", or even "tab - loot"?

Hey Fencer! The rules now say you CAN move over the centre square! Is that right?! Have you changed them? Because in the game I played I couldn't move over it to the other side...

OK, OK, I didn't read the rules well enough!! LOL!! My own fault, I'll chalk it up to experience!!!

yeah but not stated!! I found out the hard way!!

In the rules it says once a king has left his throne no piece may occupy that spot.
What the rules DON'T say is that no piece may even pass over the centre square!! :o(

What a great game!