MazeWorks - TacTix

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Playing the Game

TacTix is a two-player game, where the players take turns removing countersfrom the board. The goal is to force the other player (the computer) toremove the last counter.

On any turn, you may remove counters from either a single row or a singlecolumn. The counters must be on adjacent squares (for example, you couldnot legally remove only two corner counters). You may remove as few as1 or as many as 4 counters on your turn.

To make a move, use the mouse to select the counters you want to removefrom the board, then press the Move button. Selecting a countertwice will cancel the selection.

The computer will make its move automatically after yours. To pass atthe beginning of a game and have the computer make the first move, simplypress the Move button without selecting any counters.

One more thing: it has been proven that the player who moves secondcan always win, if he or she plays perfectly. At the Expert level,the TacTix program will indeed play a perfect game. So if you want to winat the Expert level, you must let the computer move first!

Notes on the Program

TacTix uses an alpha-beta search routine supported by transposition tables. At the Expert level, a library of opening board positions is usedto speed things up a bit.

Update 7/15/98: At popular request, a few small changes have been madeto the program, to make the game a little easier at the Beginner and Intermediatelevels. Expert level play is unchanged.