Strategies
From Polarity
A definition of strategy and strategic play: A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. A strategic move is one which influences an opponent's choice in some way. Distinct from tactics in that it is not concerned with the individual means to achieve a specific goal but rather in achieving the objectives of the game.
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[edit] General Strategy
Most plays can be classed as offensive or defensive. A good strategy will need to use both.
Mix up the offensive and defensive plays depending on what your opponent is doing. Try to see if he is closing off an area of the board and get there first. Try to see where the easy plays are for your opponent and work to make them harder. Think ahead and long term.
[edit] Offensive Strategy
Offensive plays increase the instability on the board, particularly around your opponent's pieces. The primary purpose of a good offence is to make it more difficult or impossible for your opponent to play. A good offensive player may be able to limit an opponent's play to such an extent that it becomes impossible for them to play without faulting. This will likely lead to the opponent conceding lots of faults and hopefully points. See Play Styles.
[edit] Offensive examples:
- Placing a leaner close to your opponent's foundation. This prevents your opponent from placing as many leaners as possible on the foundation. Your opponent will also not be able to expand in that direction. In addition this can set up an impossible capture (an advanced tactic). This may allow you to place further leaners near to your opponent's foundation later.
- Placing a leaner close to your opponents leaners. This will prevent your opponent from converting that leaner and expanding territory in that direction.
- Placing a tower in your opponents territory. The powerful force of the tower can be very disruptive to your opponent. This has some big risks: It will be much easier to fault while playing the tower and there is a higher risk that the tower will be involved in a fault down the road and possibly change hands.
- Playing a leaner on a tower. Tower leaners (especialy on towers of 3 or more) are very unstable, and project alot of chaos across the board. They can be very difficult to predict and should be used carefully. Because tower leaners stand so vertical, your opponent may be more likely to flip it over while playing. This is a fault and you get to capture that piece (see: Converting Opponents Pieces)
- Surrounding foundations. This involves making a chain of foundations in such a way that they surround or cut off an opponent's foundation. This limits the potential for an opponent's expansion whilst simultaneously capturing territory.
[edit] Defensive Strategy
Defensive moves try to minimize the instability on the board. The purpose of a good defence is to allow you to safely play leaners and converts as the game goes on in the hope that your opponent will concede more points.
[edit] Defensive examples:
- Play low leaners. This is basic and very important. Low leaners are easier to convert and sometimes your opponent will cause them to convert unintentionally. Unless you have another reason, lay your leaners as low as possible.
- Close off territory. Try to close off some space of the gameboard where your opponent cannot play. This gives you an area where you can play pieces that are not affected by your opponent's pieces. This will allow you to focus on offence for a while, knowing that you have an open space to play in when things get tight.
- Place towers out of the way. To be safe, place your towers on the outskirts of the play area. This way there is little risk of causing a fault or of the tower being involved in a fault later. The idea here is that you should not risk towers (and so points) recklessly.
