LAST YEAR IN MARIANBAD

Coagula · Swabbie Posts: 80 **10143 Gold** -

Sparticus- Thank you for your kind comments about my Triangle Trade Prequel story.

LAST YEAR IN MARIANBAD

These puzzles are meant as entertainments for use during long trans- caribbean voyages or the triangle trade. They all use the "Land Battle Grid" in differing manners. The "A-I" is your opponent and no rewards are involved. If anything of note calls for your attention A-I will call from the crows' nest "SAIL HO" so the puzzle is cleared from the screen.

(1) THE LAST STRAW- The grid is bare - no land features,trees, rocks etc are needed. You are presented with this;
O
OO
OOO
OOOOO
OOOOOOO
You must remove as many O's from one horizontal row as you wish. The A-I in turn will do likewise. You both continue to remove O's from any horizontal row until only one O is left. The player who is left with this single O is the loser. Try this with matches or toothpicks playing right hand against left. This game is seen in the film "Last Year In Marianbad."

(2) FILE FOUR - I played this game using graph paper so the grid is lined like that.. The goal is to line up four O's in either vertical, horizontal or diagonal file while the A-I, using X's tries to block you and accomplish the same task, which you in turn try to block. I have seen this game commercialized using plastic disks.

(3) ESCAPE - I have used this game to introduce new chess players the basic king and pawn moves, The grid resembles a checker board, perhaps trees and rocks can be added to all the red squares. The pieces can only move on the empty, black squares. At the near edge of the board, on each of the four black squares is a troop of pirates. At the opposite side of the board is one squad of cavalry. The goal of the cavalry is to reach one of the squares that the pirates start from. The goal of the pirates is to encircle the cavalry or trap them against the side of the board, in short, to allow the cavalry no moves. Pirates can only move forward. Cavalry can move forward and backward. Moves are turn based, one square each turn. Red squares may be decorated with trees or rocks but cannot be moved on.

These games may be good for the young'uns car trips, and the first one is fun at the tavern. If you know any other games of this sort please contribute (tic tac toe - no thanks )

sparticus · Helmsman Posts: 5818 **44872 Gold** -

ExtraCrispy · Boatswain Posts: 3923 **39052 Gold** -

I don't think I understand anything in this thread. Nervous

sparticus · Helmsman Posts: 5818 **44872 Gold** -

Coagula · Swabbie Posts: 80 **10143 Gold** -

Let's play " Last Straw" A practice game, just to understand the moves.

1-O
2-OO
3-OOO
4-OOOOO
Figure 1- a shorter version- I am going to remove as many O's from any HORIZONTAL row as I wish. I am going to remove 3 O's from line 4-
1-O
2-OO
3-OOO
4-OO
Figure 2- It's your turn to remove 1or many O's from any line. Reply to Figure 2 with your Figure 3 and I in turn will answer with Figure 4- We will keep removing O's. The person left with the last O has lost. I will reply to any and all on this thread.

sparticus · Helmsman Posts: 5818 **44872 Gold** -

ExtraCrispy · Boatswain Posts: 3923 **39052 Gold** -

Coagula · Swabbie Posts: 80 **10143 Gold** -

AYE, lettuce return to the thread- Tankee Sparticus , fer joinin' this demonstrashun.

Seems I can take 1 0R 2 O's either rows 2 an' 4---OR---Take a single O from rows 1 OR 3
O
OO
O
OO
given

O
OO
O
O
choice 1

O
OO
O

choice 2

O
OO

OO
choiceR 3.

"Tis a head scratcher, sure. Ay'm leanin' #1 Gag me parrot squawks fer #2 - Sweet Mary, figure-head of me ship Abattoir, is certain #3 is correct. Well, Ay'll pick...SAIL HO! comes from the crow's nest. IT'S A FRENCH FRIGATE -CAP'N! Do excuse me gentlemen, I believe some cargo down the hull requires hajustments.
Captain Crispy please answer the practice once fer me! I shall return!

sparticus · Helmsman Posts: 5818 **44872 Gold** -

sparticus · Helmsman Posts: 5818 **44872 Gold** -

ExtraCrispy · Boatswain Posts: 3923 **39052 Gold** -

It violates the no politics rule.

Coagula · Swabbie Posts: 80 **10143 Gold** -

Lettuce continue, Ay'm taken' cherse #1-

O
OO
O
O
Your move, Sparticus. Try to make me take the last O. You previous move was very good.

sparticus · Helmsman Posts: 5818 **44872 Gold** -

Coagula · Swabbie Posts: 80 **10143 Gold** -

A'ym thinkin' you unnerstan' 'cause yer gonna win an' thar's nuttin' I can do ter prevent it. But lettuce,to the end, continue so all may "GET IT"

I remove one of the Os, doesn't matter which, so I'll take the O from row one- leaving-

O
O

BUT A'ym starting GAME 2
1 O
2 OO
3 OOO
4 OOOOO
I take 1 O from row 4
O
OO
OOO
OOOO

sparticus · Helmsman Posts: 5818 **44872 Gold** -