Ordo X
This is like Ordo with the following modifications:
These rules make for a quite different Ordo experience. Ordo X offers a lot more of move options which opens up many new tactical possibilities. It’s much faster and promotes offensive play.
Read the complete Official Ordo X Rules here.
New Capture Rules
If a player disconnects the group of the opponent by a capture move, he must also take away all pieces of any smaller isolated sub-group, such that only one (i.e. the largest) group remains. If there are sub-groups with the same number of pieces, the attacker can decide which sub-group to remove.
As usual, isolated single pieces also form a “group”.
Fig. 1: White captures a piece and removes 2 other pieces of an isolated sub-group.
It follows from this that
- there are no more reconnection (i.e. backward) moves, and
- there is no more resignment as a result of a permanently disconnected group.
Now a player wins only if he
- reaches the opponent’s home row, or
- manages to capture all opponent pieces.
More powerful Ordo Moves
Ordo moves are now possible in diagonal directions. Pieces that can be moved in an ordo must be vertically or horizontally aligned (there is no diagonal alignment).
As usual, ordos move in parallel the same number of empty spaces.
Fig. 2: Two examples of diagonal ordo moves. The move on the left is not allowed, because diagonally aligned pieces aren’t ordos.
Ordo moves in single file are now allowed.
Fig. 3: Moving in single file. Sideways moves are also possible (and they are special, see below).
As usual, ordos may move any number of empty spaces, provided that the player’s group stays connected. Also, ordos still may not capture.
Moving Sideways
Singleton and ordo moves in a sideways direction (to the left or the right) are now “preparation moves”, i.e. they must be immediately followed by a forward (singleton or ordo) move. This second move (made in the same turn) can include the same or any other piece(s).
It is not allowed to make a sideways move
- on its own, or
- followed by another sideways move.
Apart from that, sideways moves must be legal moves in every respect, e.g.:
- they may not disconnect the player’s own group, and
- they can be singleton capture moves possibly followed by a removal of opponent sub-groups (see above).
Fig. 4: See what’s possible now: Black makes a sideways move (1.) creating a 2-piece ordo which moves diagonally (2.) towards the opponent home row. Black wins.
BTW: There is another winning move available, can you see it?
Ordo X – the Official Extension
Faster gameplay, more options, more tactics.
“Toutes ces modifications entraînent un jeu totalement différent, bien plus rapide et bien plus mouvementé, qui conviendra surtout aux joueurs aguerris.”
– François Haffner, jeuxsoc.fr
Ordo X Rules (PDF, 266.9 KB)