Puzzle 10: Two Colour Optimization

  Thanks to Toby for submitting this puzzle.  The goal is to get the best total score for blue and red combined. The problem is here (link:http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/10TwoColourOptimization/twocolouroptimization-problem.blksgf) The solution is here (link:http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/10TwoColourOptimization/twocolouroptimization-solution.blksgf) The best score is hidden below.  If you wish to see the score, click on the Show button. [Show][Hide] The highest score is 179

Puzzle 9: Beginner Packing 3

  Do the best you can with Blue and Red. The .blksgf with the problem is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/09BeginnerPacking3/BeginnerPacking3-problem.blksgf) The .blksgf with the solution is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/09BeginnerPacking3/BeginnerPacking3-solution.blksgf)

Puzzle 8: Beginner Packing 2

Do the best you can with green. The .blksgf with the problem is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/08BeginnerPacking2/BeginnerPacking2-Problem.blksgf). The .blksgf with the solution is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/08BeginnerPacking2/BeginnerPacking2-Solution.blksgf). There are multiple solutions with the same score.  Thanks to toby for providing the first solution with bonus.

Puzzle 7: Beginner Packing

Score as high as possible with red. The blksgf with the problem is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/07BeginnerPacking/BeginnerPacking-Problem.blksgf) The blksgf with the solution is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/07BeginnerPacking/BeginnerPacking-Solution.blksgf)   This week’s puzzle is a beginner level puzzle.  I am looking for more puzzles at this, and slightly more difficult levels.  Please contact me if you would like to contribute.  Also,… Read More »

Puzzle 6: One Point Win

  Blue can manage a one point win in this game, assuming perfect play by green and yellow.  Can you find it? The pentobi file with the problem is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/06OnePointWin/OnePointWin-Problem.blksgf) The pentobi file with the solution is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/06OnePointWin/OnePointWin-Solution.blksgf) It has come to my attention that many of the problems I have… Read More »

Puzzle 5: DCCZ Packing

In this week’s puzzle, you are Blue/Red, and want to get the Blue bonus.  As usual there are still some moves for Yellow and Green to make, and you should try to have them make the best moves possible – in particular they should not allow Blue any free space, nor any free turns. The… Read More »

The teta I5

After you have played enough games to get a good grip on what kinds of moves are “good” and/or “bad” in general, you will probably start to recognize patterns that appear frequently inside of games.  Certain moves may start to seem appealing without having to think carefully through why they are good or bad, but… Read More »

Puzzle 4: Double Bonus Problem

Can you find the double bonus for blue/red?  Assume that yellow plays as well as possible from the position provided. Thanks to Toby for providing this problem. The pentobi file with the problem is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/DoubleBonusPuzzle/dblbonuspuzzle-Problem.blksgf) The pentobi file with the solution is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/DoubleBonusPuzzle/dblbonuspuzzle-Solution1.blksgf) (As always, this is just ONE solution, there… Read More »

Puzzle 3: Expert Endgame

Thanks to theloser for providing this puzzle.  The goal is to score as high as possible with blue/red (assuming the best possible moves for yellow).  Note that while it is not hard to win, scoring as high as possible is quite a challenge.   The pentobi file for the puzzle is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/ExpertEndgame/ExpertEndgame-Problem.blksgf). The pentobi file… Read More »

Colour-Kill Defense

At some point in the future I will write a whole blog post on how to defend against colour-kills, but in the mean time, here is some commentary from a real game.  In this game, blue and red tried to kill yellow with the standard I5/I5 colour kill, and yellow played a very strong defense… Read More »