Contents
Tak Game Rules
The game of Tak is a classic strategy game that is played on a square board. It is a game that requires critical thinking, adaptability, and a touch of creativity. The goal of the game is to create a road using your pieces before your opponent does the same. The road can be created horizontally or vertically, and it must be a continuous line.
When playing Tak, I find it helpful to remember a few key rules:
1. Placing Pieces: You take turns with your opponent to place one of your pieces on the board. You can place your piece flat or stack it on top of another piece. Stacking can help you build a road faster, but it also makes your pieces vulnerable to being captured.
2. Moving Pieces: After placing your pieces, you can also move them on the board. You can move a single piece or a stack of pieces. However, when moving a stack, you can only move the top piece, and you must move it to an empty space or onto a larger stack.
3. Capturing Pieces: In Tak, you have the opportunity to capture your opponent’s pieces by surrounding them. To capture a piece, you must create a sandwich by placing two of your own pieces on either side of your opponent’s piece. The sandwiched piece is then replaced with one of your own.
4. Building a Road: The ultimate goal of Tak is to build a road using your pieces. A road is a continuous line of your own pieces that connects two opposite sides of the board. The road can be made horizontally or vertically, and it can twist and turn as long as it remains unbroken. The first player to build a road wins the game.
Tak is a game that requires strategic thinking, adaptability, and a bit of luck. It’s a game that can challenge your mind and provide endless hours of entertainment. So, if you’re looking for a new game to try, why not give Tak a go? I guarantee you’ll be hooked in no time!
So, let me break it down for you. Tak is this awesome game that comes in two types: stones and capstones. And stones, well, you can play them in two different ways: flat or standing.
Playing with Stones: Most of the time, I play with stones by laying them flat, just like this.
Did you know that flat stones can be stacked on top of each other? It’s pretty cool, right? And here’s the best part – when you stack them, they can even count as part of a road. How awesome is that?
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Standing Stones: Instead of laying flat, you can stand a stone upright, like this picture shows. Standing stones are not considered part of your path, and you can’t put anything on top of them.
This makes them great for blocking, which is why they are sometimes referred to as “walls”.
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Capstones: Capstones are a unique type of stone that combines the best features of standing and flat stones. Unlike other stones, capstones are considered part of a road and cannot have other pieces stacked on top of them.
In addition, a capstone has the ability to move onto a standing stone, regardless of its color, and flatten it.
When a capstone flattens a standing stone, it acts alone without the support of other stones. This can occur as a stand-alone move or at the end of a longer sequence of moves.
Game Play
The game is played by taking turns. On your turn, you have two options: you can either place a new piece on an empty space or move a stack of pieces that you control.
The objective is to construct a road, which is a continuous line of pieces that connects opposite sides of the board. Here are a few examples of a winning road:
There’s a special path that links different sides of the board.
Spaces on the Tak board are only connected through their edges. Roads can’t be made diagonally, and the tiles don’t move diagonally either.
The game comes to an end if one of the players makes a road, runs out of stones, or if the board gets completely filled. If the game ends without a road, the player with the most flat stones wins. You can find more details in the following pages.
Setting Up
The board starts empty. Make sure each player has 21 stones and one capstone. To decide who goes first in the first game, you can randomly pick. After that, players take turns going first.
On the first turn of the game, each player places one of their opponent’s stones. You can put this stone in any empty space, and it must be flat.
After this, players can start playing their own stones.
Let’s say you’re playing Tak and White has the first move. White will place a Black flat stone on the board, then Black will respond with a White flat stone. And now, White can take their first regular turn.
How Many Pieces
Hey, did you know that you can play Tak on different board sizes? Yep! You can go as small as 3×3 or as big as 6×6 or even larger. Of course, the number of pieces you get will depend on the size of the board. Check out these sets:
| Stones | 10 | 15 | 21 | 30 | 50 |
| Capstones | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Oh, by the way, just a little tip for you. It’s kind of interesting – there’s no official standard for a 7×7 board in Tak. People say it’s bad luck, so it’s not really used very often.
Calling “Tak”: In a friendly game of Tak, you would usually call out “Tak” when you’re just one move away from winning. It’s kind of like saying “check” in chess. But hey, it’s not a strict rule. You can still have fun without it!
Let’s Play the Game!
Hey there! I have an exciting game for you. It’s called “Road Creation”, and the objective is pretty simple. You just need to create a road by connecting your pieces from one side of the board to the opposite side. Easy peasy, right?
Now, here’s the catch – your road doesn’t have to be a boring, straight line. You can get creative and take any path you want. Just remember, you can’t include any standing stones in your road. However, your capstone can be a part of it. Oh, and diagonal connections are a no-no!
Take a look at the illustration below. In this example, Black has won the game by cleverly connecting two opposite sides of the board with their road. See those spaces along the path? Each one has a stack of black flat stones or the mighty capstone.
Winning in Different Ways
Flat Win: If one of us runs out of pieces or the board gets completely filled, the game is over. If neither of us has a road, the player with the most flat stones on top of their stacks wins. We don’t count the flat stones hidden inside the stacks. If we both have an equal number of flat stones, the game ends in a draw.
Double Road: If I create a winning road for both of us in the same move, I win the game because it’s my turn. For example, if I create both a white road and a black road, I win because it’s my turn.
Your Turn to Play
Now it’s your turn to make a move! You can either place a piece in an empty spot or move one of the stacks that you control. It’s up to you!
Note: When you place your last piece or fill the last space on the board, the game ends. Check “Other Ways to Win” on the left for more options.
Place: You have the freedom to put a flat stone, standing stone, or capstone in any empty space on the game board.
Remember, you can’t play a new piece directly on top of another one. Stacks only form as a result of movement.
Move: You have the ability to move one or more pieces in a stack that you control. And remember, a stack can be as tall or as short as you like. By “control,” we simply mean that your piece is on top.
To move a stack, you can take up to five pieces off the top (check the Carry Limit on the right) and move them in a straight line. Along the way, make sure to drop at least one piece off the bottom in each space. The pieces that you drop will cover up any stacks that are in their path.
When it comes to playing the game of Capstones and standing stones, it’s important to understand the rules for movement. The presence of capstones and standing stones can make it challenging to navigate the board.
Let me give you an example to help you visualize. Imagine a scenario where you have a piece that cannot move to the left because there is a standing stone occupying that space.
Now, here’s an interesting twist. Both capstones and standing stones follow the same movement rules as flat stones. So, if the piece in question were a capstone instead, it would have the option to move left and flatten the standing stone.
There are some additional rules to consider when it comes to movement:
Carry Limit: You can stack the pieces as high as you want, but there is a limit to how many pieces you can actually move. This limit is determined by the width of the board. For example, in a 5×5 game, you can only move a maximum of five pieces.
Let’s say you have a stack of seven pieces. With a carry limit of five, you would have to leave at least two of those pieces in the starting space. It’s important to keep this in mind when planning your moves.
Toppling Walls: I can move a capstone onto a standing stone and flatten it. I can also take part in a chain of moves, as long as the final move is flattening the wall with just the capstone.
You have the power to flatten both your standing stones and your opponent’s. Remember, though, that you can only flatten a standing stone with a capstone; you can’t lay down a standing stone yourself.
Journeying with Tak: Fancy boards are not necessary to play Tak. You can be creative and draw a board on paper, paint it on cloth, or even play without a board.
When you want to play Tak without a board, don’t worry! You can simply use a flat object like a coin or a scrap of paper to mark the center space. As the game progresses, the shape of the board will start to become clear and defined, giving you a sense of direction.
If you’re always on the go and want to take Tak with you wherever you are, we’ve got you covered! We’ve included a cloth bag for the game pieces to make it as portable as possible. Whether you toss it into your backpack or tie it to your belt, you can easily carry Tak with you and play it anytime, anywhere!
An Example of Movement
Hey there! Today, I want to talk to you about controlling the stack in a game. In this example, let’s say I’m playing as White. The stack that’s on top belongs to me. So it’s my turn to make a move, and I want to take control of the stacks that belong to Black.
First things first, we’re playing on a 5×5 board, which means that the most stones I can move at once is five. It’s like a carry limit. I have a choice to make here. Do I want to move the entire stack, or do I want to leave some pieces behind? Well, I’m feeling confident, so I think I’ll go ahead and move the entire stack.
Now, I need to decide on the direction in which I want to move my stack. This is where I really need to think strategically. The direction I choose will determine which stacks I can take over. It’s like picking a path. So I carefully consider my options and make my decision.
And that’s how I control the stack in this game. By making the right moves and thinking ahead, I can take over my opponent’s stacks and gain an advantage. It’s all about strategy and being one step ahead. So, if you enjoy these kinds of games, I think you’ll really love this one. Give it a try and see how you do!
When I’m playing the game of White, I have to make sure that I move in a straight line. Every space I pass through has to have at least one of my pieces dropped in it. And those pieces always come off the bottom. Easy enough, right?
Now, here’s the tricky part. After I drop those initial pieces, I have to keep going and carry five more pieces before I can stop. It’s like a little challenge within the game, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature.
So, as I make my moves, I have to be strategic. I have to think about how I can drop my pieces in a way that will help me carry those five pieces in a row. It’s like solving a puzzle, always trying to find the best path and the best moves.
But you know what? It’s actually really fun. It’s a challenge, yes, but that’s what makes it exciting. Being able to think ahead and plan my moves keeps me engaged and entertained.
And when I finally complete that row of five pieces, it’s such a satisfying feeling. It’s like a little victory within the game. Plus, it brings me one step closer to winning the overall game, which is always a great feeling.
So, if you like games that make you think and strategize, then you’ll love playing White. It combines logic, problem-solving, and a touch of competition, all in one neat package.
Next time you’re looking for a game to play, why not give White a try? It’s a game that challenges your mind and keeps you on your toes. And who knows, you might just find your new favorite game.
When I play this game, I start by dropping two pieces in the first space and then I carry three.
Then, I move to the next space and drop two pieces again, but this time I only carry the top piece into the last space.
After that, I pick up three more pieces.
In the last step, you can see where the final position is revealed. White’s clever maneuver has allowed them to take control of three spaces that were previously occupied by Black. Nice job, White!
. and now only one piece remains.
Example of Movement 2
Hey there! Let’s talk about capstones and how they can be really powerful pieces on the board. You see, just like any other piece, a capstone has the ability to move. But what makes it extra special is that it can also flatten a standing stone all on its own. Pretty cool, right?
Imagine this scenario: Black is playing against White, and Black has a capstone. Black decides to move their capstone two spaces forward, and along the way, it flattens one of White’s standing stones. That’s a smart move!
Now, let’s break down the first step. When it’s Black’s turn, they can actually choose to move up to five pieces. But in this case, Black decides to leave two pieces behind and moves three of them to the next space. By doing this, Black has full control over the starting space. Smart move, Black!
So, here’s the thing. When it’s your turn, you get to pick a stack of pieces and choose which direction you want to move them in. It’s all up to you, and that’s what makes Tak such an exciting game to play.
Imagine this: you’ve encountered a puzzling scenario while playing a game called “Tak.” To solve it, you need to understand the rules and come up with a strategy. Let me guide you through it, step by step.
First, to flatten the standing stone, you must separate the capstone from the rest of the pieces. This means moving the capstone all by itself onto the standing stone. It’s like a crucial chess move that requires careful consideration.
Now, here comes the tricky part. After placing the capstone on the standing stone, you need to think ahead. You can move any three pieces from the second space. This is where your strategic skills come into play. Consider which pieces will help you achieve your goal.
It’s important to understand that each move has consequences. You have to anticipate how your opponent might respond and plan accordingly. Strategy is like a double-edged sword; it can both elevate your chances of success and regenerate the response from your opponent.
Now that you know the rules of the game, it’s time to put your knowledge into action. Remember, the key to success is to think critically and make calculated moves. By following these steps, you’ll be able to navigate any challenging scenario in “Tak.”
So, are you ready to take on the challenge?
When I make this move, I flatten the standing stone belonging to my opponent, but it also leaves them in control of the middle stack. This outcome isn’t ideal for me, but it’s a common result in the game of Tak.
. So, my next move would be to place my capstone on top of their flattened stone.
If I don’t want to leave any of my opponent’s pieces on the board, I need to start my capstone move with one of my own pieces below it.
Remember, capstones have the power to flatten stones of either color, not just the opponent’s stones like shown here.
Here’s the Basic Strategy
You’ll see that the simple rules of Tak offer a wide range of strategic possibilities.
The key to the game is movement. A tall stack of pieces gives you many options, and a single move has the potential to shift the balance of power.
If you want to learn the basics of the game, start by playing a few rounds on a 4×4 board. Since there are no capstones at this size, standing stones are powerful and can be used for offense and defense.
In the beginning, be careful not to make too many moves. You need to get pieces into play instead of just moving the ones you already have.
When it’s late in the game, don’t hesitate to “run out the clock” by playing out your pieces, especially if you’re winning on the flats.
Scoring Across Multiple Games
There’s a small advantage for the player who goes first. So, to make it a fair competition, you can keep score over multiple games.
Your score for winning is the size of the board (25 points in a 5×5 game) plus the number of pieces remaining in the winner’s reserve.
Let me give you an example: if you manage to win a game with four pieces that you didn’t even play, you’ll earn a total of 29 points. Out of these, 25 points are awarded for the pieces that were actually placed on the board, and an additional four points are given for the unplayed pieces.
Now, here’s something interesting: over time, players who are more skilled and strategic will end up scoring more points. This is because they know how to make the most out of their moves, playing efficiently and effectively.
The Rules of Gambling at the University
Recently, Tak has become really popular at my university, where I’m studying magic and stuff.
Here’s an optional betting system for the game invented by Tak historian Daramin Centes.
Starting Bet: To begin, each player puts in ten coins. This creates a prize pot for the winner.
Deciding Who Goes First: Players bid with their coins to determine who goes first. The player with the highest bid goes first and has to pay their bid into the pot. The second player doesn’t have to pay anything extra.