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Tant Fant is a two-player
Tant Fant is a two-player abstract strategy game
Abstract strategy games admit a number of definitions which distinguish these from strategy games in general, mostly involving no or minimal narrative theme, outcomes determined only by player choice (with no randomness), and perfect information. ...
from India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. It is related to 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 ...
, but more closely related to three men's morris
Three men's morris is an abstract strategy game played on a three by three board (counting lines)
that is similar to tic-tac-toe. It is also related to six men's morris and nine men's morris. A player wins by forming a mill, that is, three of thei ...
, Nine Holes
Nine Holes is a two-player abstract strategy game from different parts of the world and is centuries old. It was very popular in England. It is related to tic-tac-toe, but even more related to three men's morris, Achi, Tant Fant, Shisima, Pic ...
, Achi, Shisima
Shisima is a two-player abstract strategy game from Kenya. It is related to tic-tac-toe, and even more so to three men's morris, Nine Holes, Achi, Tant Fant, and Dara, because pieces are moved on the board to create the 3-in-a-row. Unlike tho ...
, and Dara
Dara is a given name used for both males and females, with more than one origin. Dara is found in the Bible's Old Testament Books of Chronicles. Dara “רעwas a descendant of Judah (son of Jacob). (The Bible. 1 Chronicles 2:6). Dara (also known ...
, because pieces are moved on the board to create the 3 in-a-row. It is an alignment game.
Tant Fant uses the same board as Tapatan and Achi, and have very similar rules and game play. The difference is that in Tant Fant the pieces are lined up initially on each player's side (referred to as "home row" in this article). Furthermore, players cannot win with a 3 in-a-row formed with their own pieces in their home row.
There are two versions to this game. The standard version allows a player to make any kind of 3 in-a-row (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) except in one's home row. The second version is more challenging, and allows only for diagonal 3 in-a-rows.
Goal
Version 1 (Standard): To create a 3 in-a-row of one's pieces either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. 3 in-a-rows formed in the player's home row with their own pieces do not count. Version 2: To create a diagonal 3 in-a-row.Equipment
A 3 x 3 board is used. Three horizontal lines form the three rows. Three vertical lines form the three columns. Two diagonal lines connect the two opposite corners of the board. Each player has 3 pieces. One plays the black pieces, and the other plays the white pieces, however, any two colors or distinguishable objects will suffice. The board is easily drawn on the ground or paper.Gameplay
#Players decide what colors to play, and who will start first. #Each player's pieces are initially lined up on their side of the board called the home rank. #Each piece can move one space at a time following the pattern on the board. Only one piece can be moved per turn. #3 in-a-rows formed in player's home row with their own pieces do not count. When one player can no longer move, the game may be considered a loss for the player or astalemate
Stalemate is a situation in the game of chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check and has no legal move. Stalemate results in a draw. During the endgame, stalemate is a resource that can enable the player with the inferior ...
draw, depending on house rules. Repeating a position three times may also be considered a draw.
Analysis
Analysis has shown that the game is a draw with perfect play.See also
* Achi (game) *Dara (game)
Dara is a two-player abstract strategy board game played in several countries of West Africa. In Nigeria it is played by the Dakarkari people. It is popular in Niger among the Zarma, who call it dili, and it is also played in Burkina Faso. In th ...
*Nine Holes
Nine Holes is a two-player abstract strategy game from different parts of the world and is centuries old. It was very popular in England. It is related to tic-tac-toe, but even more related to three men's morris, Achi, Tant Fant, Shisima, Pic ...
*Picaria
Picaria is a two-player abstract strategy game from the Zuni Native American Indians or the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest. It is related to tic-tac-toe, but more related to three men's morris, Nine Holes, Achi, Tant Fant, and Shisim ...
*Shisima
Shisima is a two-player abstract strategy game from Kenya. It is related to tic-tac-toe, and even more so to three men's morris, Nine Holes, Achi, Tant Fant, and Dara, because pieces are moved on the board to create the 3-in-a-row. Unlike tho ...
*Three men's morris
Three men's morris is an abstract strategy game played on a three by three board (counting lines)
that is similar to tic-tac-toe. It is also related to six men's morris and nine men's morris. A player wins by forming a mill, that is, three of thei ...
*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 ...
External links
* http://healthy.uwaterloo.ca/museum/VirtualExhibits/rowgames/tapatan.html Indian board games Abstract strategy games Traditional board games