Order and Chaos is a
variant
Variant may refer to:
In arts and entertainment
* ''Variant'' (magazine), a former British cultural magazine
* Variant cover, an issue of comic books with varying cover art
* ''Variant'' (novel), a novel by Robison Wells
* " The Variant", 2021 e ...
of the game
tic-tac-toe
Tic-tac-toe (American English), noughts and crosses (Commonwealth English), or Xs and Os (Canadian or Irish English) is a paper-and-pencil game for two players who take turns marking the spaces in a three-by-three grid with ''X'' or ''O''. T ...
on a 6×6 . It was invented by Stephen Sniderman and introduced by him in ''
Games
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (such ...
'' magazine in 1981. The player ''Order'' strives to create a five-in-a-row of either Xs or Os. The opponent ''Chaos'' endeavors to prevent this.
Game rules
Unlike typical
board games
Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well.
Many board games feature a comp ...
, both players control both sets of pieces (Xs and Os). The game starts with the . Order plays first, then turns alternate. On each turn, a player places either an X or an O on any open square. Once played, pieces cannot be moved, thus Order and Chaos can be played using
pencil and paper.
Order aims to get five like pieces in a row either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Chaos aims to fill the board without completion of a line of five like pieces.
Rules addition
The original rules in ''Games'' magazine implied that six-in-a-row also wins. That version of the game was claimed
weakly solved as a forced win for Order.
The inventor has subsequently suggested a new rule to better balance winning chances for both sides: ''Six-in-a-row does not qualify as a win.'' The new rule offers Chaos new defensive tactics against Order's previously "unstoppable" four-in-a-rows. This version is
weakly solved as a forced win for Chaos, who can win using a
Pairing strategy.
See also
*
Entropy (1977 board game)
''Entropy'' is an Abstract strategy game, abstract strategy board game for two players designed by Eric Solomon in 1977. The game is "based on the eternal conflict in the universe between order and chaos ..One player is Order, the other Chaos. ...
References
External links
*
*
{{Tic-Tac-Toe
, state = expanded
Board games introduced in 1981
Tic-tac-toe variants
Mathematical games
Paper-and-pencil games
Abstract strategy games
In-a-row games
Solved games