Order and Chaos is a

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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.

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

Game rules

Rules addition

See also

References

External links