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Think back to your early days and your first experiences with
paper and pencil games and you'll recall "Dots and Boxes".
Perhaps you played it with your parents or taught it to your
children ... it's a game with very simple rules but elusive
strategies for larger board sizes. We've changed the rules
a bit for the POTM (alternating moves, longer lines, and a non-empty
starting board) ... click on the picture above for
a playthrough of a sample game.
LINES AND BOXES: TASK DESCRIPTION
Deadline is May 31, 2006
THE SHORT PROBLEM STATEMENT
You will write a program that will play the game of "Lines and Boxes"
according to the POTM rules.
Every program will play against every other program
in a two game match on a given starting board
(each having the opportunity to go first).
The program that scores the most match points will win this POTM.
If there are ties, the winners will advance to a different board to resolve
the ties. Your program must be able to
play on rectangular and square boards with sides from 3 to 8 boxes.
| LINES and BOXES details | the "special" POTM rules.
| | Wikipedia Dots and Boxes Reference | description and strategies for the original Dots and
Boxes pencil and paper game. This may or may not help with the POTM challenge since our movement rules are very different even though the goal is the same.
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If it sounds interesting, sign up using the Members Section link on the left
and read the details in the above link. And please join us
us in the forums
for more details, current standings, how to submit your entry, and
much discussion among the jolly band of POTM participants!
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