Tactics

From Polarity

A definition of Tactics: Tactics are the specific means in which to achieve short term goals, from a specific situation to specific situation basis. Distinct from Strategy in that it does not concern itself with the overall goal of the game but rather short term means of moving towards that goal within a strategic framework.

Impossible Captures

Basic Method

Here is one simple way of creating an impossible capture. Say there are two opposing foundations a fairly short distance appart (say 1.5 disc diameter). Now lay a low standing piece facing directly toward the other foundation. Now your opponent then places a leaner on his foundation on the far side away from your leaner. Now you simply drop your leaner so that it touches your opponenet's foundation without disturbing his leaner. He now has an impossible capture to deal with. Your opponent should attempt to capture it so his standing piece falls down with his color up to minimize the damage. The board after his failed capture will have two foundations of each color again but farther apart.

For greater deception or when your opponent get used to seeing this comming you can try rolling standing pieces around to the correct attack position, so they may not see it comming.

Defending Against

First get used to looking for the above situation on the board (your opponenet has a close leaner facing a foundation you wish to play on). For better defence try to place your leaner to the side (not opposite the other foundation) so as to better gaurd against this 'back door'. In this way if your opponent trys to convert his leaner, your leaner should snap up and make a nice tower for you.

Rolling Standing Pieces

You can roll standing pieces around their foundation using the forces of the action disc. This can be tricky because the standing disc will tend to get closer or farther from the foundation as it moves. if it gets too close it will snap together (bad). if it gets too far away it will fall down (not as bad).

Hold the standing disc roughly between horizontal and the andle of the leaner. Push from the inside (over the foundation) if the standing piece has a high angle to help push it away from the foundation. Push from the outside if the standing disc has a very low angle so it doesn't fall down. This is more risky because it might stap to the foundation.

You can use this to try and adjust the angle of an already standing piece. If you have a high leaner that you want to convert, you may be able to lower the andgle first by pushing it around from the inside.