furbster: I joined in the discussion on that last night in Tounaments. I think something needs clarifying in the Rules to be honest.
The question is, Is it game over ? or should there be a pass ?
The Rules state, that a player can not make any legal move.
Now, it is the end of the game anyway, BUT you could still move and win so it would not of been a draw. If this had happened half way through the game (i.e. your opponent can not move) in theory this should be a pass, as such, because on your next move you could easily free a space by moving one of your pieces should you wish to do so.

MadMonkey: carrying on from that what happened when a game is over or not, is this game over me Vs. varkala ???

I would say yes, as there is no way i am going to move a piece away from the front line, so game is over.

MadMonkey: No It's white's turn and there are still legal moves foor white.

joshi tm: AGRRED !!! but white can not win unless i decide to let them.

MadMonkey: So that's not a draw, you'll win as long as you let that gate closed.

joshi tm: So why carry on playing it ? In essense my opponent is just passing (playing a pointless move) until i win. If that was used in the game discussed below, the game would not have been a draw.

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.

BIG BAD WOLF: I can see both sides of it. I just think its odd where when posted that, i still had about 12 spaces to fill and my opponent could NOT get anywhere near(at least 2 of my pieces between him and empty spaces). He still had about 7 places left, which if i wanted to i could jump to, but whats the point, the game was won, is all that was happening is we were wasting time just filling the board up. why would i jump threatening my own position when the game was in theory & practice over.
Oh well, funny rules that can just waste time i guess.

MadMonkey: This is a draw: Ataxx (PerGioco - joshi tm)

joshi tm: lol, i know what a draw is, but also i feel that there could be a pass and white could play again. If you look at rule for Ataxx on other sites this is what happens, but there are sites where the rules are the same as here.

joshi tm:

you accepted a draw?
because white can play on a6 and wins
25-24

or is this another game??

Groeneveld: It is the same game, BUT it is black to play. Black can not go so the game ends. I did put forward the idea that it should be a pass, the white could play and win. Passing seems to be in all Gammon games & Ludo etc... but not in Ataxx or Assimilation. Seems odd to me. If they were going to allow draws in the game, surely the board would have an even number of squares.

Groeneveld: It's the way MadMonkey says, it wasn't my turn. My opponent'couldn't move, the game ends, and the score of twenty-four against twenty-four resulted in a draw.

joshi tm:

oke that looks a bit unfair to me