gipf
GIPF is a strategic game for two players based on a classic concept: In turns, players introduce one piece into play until achieving four-in-a-row. Players then remove their row and capture any of their opponent's pieces which extend that row. This principle of capturing pieces creates each time again completely changed situations on the board. Repeat this until the opponent has no piece left to bring into play or when he has no more GIPF-pieces on the board.
LB_NUMBER_OF_PLAYERS: 2
Game duration: 13 mn
Complexity: 2 / 5
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Play gipf and 1226 other games online.
No download, directly from your web browser.
With your friends and thousands of players from the whole world.
Free.
Rules summary
Standard Rules
You start with 3 GIPF pieces (double-stacked pieces) on the board in the starting position, as well as a reserve of 12 single pieces. Each turn, you place a piece from your reserve onto one of the dots surrounding the main hexagonal board. Then you must push the new piece into the playing area along a line connected to the dot, stopping at the first intersection of the board proper. Any pieces ahead of it are pushed ahead along the same line as well, if they are displaced by pieces pushed into them. You cannot push pieces off of the board.
Forming a continuous line of four pieces in the player's color results in three actions:
1) All of the normal pieces (friendly and opposing) in the line contiguous with the 4-in-a-row are removed from the board. For GIPF pieces, the player with the completed line may choose to keep them on the board instead.
2) The friendly pieces in the contiguous line are returned to the player's reserves.
3) Any opposing pieces in the contiguous line are captured and no longer available to the opposing player.
When two groups of four in a row are created simultaneously:
1) If the groups do not intersect, both are captured.
2) If the groups do intersect, the player of that color may choose which group to take. If a GIPF piece is at the point of intersection, the player may choose to remove one or both lines. In either case, the player also may choose to keep the GIPF piece on the board or remove it with either line.
3) If both players must take pieces, the player who placed and pushed chooses first.
All GIPF pieces removed from the board are turned into two single pieces in reserve or capture. No new GIPF piece can be created during the game.
There are two victory conditions:
1) The opponent has to move but has no pieces in their reserve
2) The opponent loses their last GIPF piece
Tournament Rules
The board is started without any pieces. On your first move, you place and push a GIPF piece onto the board. You can follow this up with any number of additional GIPF pieces on your subsequent turns. Once you place your first single piece, you may no longer create any more GIPF pieces.