Date: Sat, 10 Dec 1994 20:12:54 -0500
From: Augustine Carreno <acarreno@hookup.net>
To: jon@stekt.oulu.fi
Subject: Re: game rules wanted and collected
Newsgroups: rec.games.abstract

Hello!

I am enclosing here the rules to Entropy, a game invented by me in 1992 and
released through the Internet in 1994. A brief Entropy-FAQ will follow in a
separate mailing.

Thank you for keeping them in your archive.

Augustine

---------------------


			 The Rules Of Entropy (e-mail version)


	The board has 25 squares, or spaces, arranged in a 5 x 5 grid,
	as shown below.

                           S     S     S     S     S
     
                           S     .     .     .     S

                           .     .     .     .     .

                           O     .     .     .     O

                           O     O     O     O     O 

	                   Fig. 1  Starting Position
 
	In this diagram, S and O represent two sets of pieces; seven to
	each player.  The dots are empty squares.

	--> RULES:
	1. A piece can move only if it is next (incl. diagonally) to another
	of the same color. If this is satisfied, you may move it any
	number of empty squares, in a straight line, and in any one direction.

	2. If you have a piece that is next to neither one of its own, 
	nor one of the other color, then you are in check. You must clear
	the check on the next move. If it can't be done you must pass.

	3. The objective is to disperse your pieces so that each one
	is placed next to a piece of the other color only, not their own.
	------------------------------------------------------------------
	EXAMPLES:


	S     .     O     .     S             S     .     O     .     O

	O     .     .     .     O             O     .     S     O     S

	O     S     S     O     S             S     .     .     .     .

	S     .     .     .     .             O     O     S     S     O

	.     .     O     O     S             S     .     .     .     .

	Fig 2. The O side is in check         Fig. 3. What's O's best move?

	Let's expound on the examples above, using the algebraic notation
	(Top row = 5; Left col.= a):
	In Fig.2, the O side is in check, since the piece at c5 is isolated.
	One possible way out is for O to play a4-c4, clearing the check
	and creating one for S at the same time.
 
	Fig.3 shows S threatening to win with d2-e1. O can preempt this
	with b2-b4, which denies the piece at c2 its connection.

	NOTES:	
	By convention, the O's play first. The easiest way to start a
	gane is to just copy Fig.1 into your editor and proceed from there.

	"In check", as described in rule 2., applies only when you
	take your turn. This means you can put yourself in check in one
	turn, and then clear out of it in the next.



	Copyright [C] 1994 Augustine R. Carreno  
	All rights reserved.