Neutron (game)
Encyclopedia
Neutron is a two-player abstract strategy game
invented by Robert A. Kraus. The game was first published in the Playroom section of Games & Puzzles
71 in July/August 1978. It is a game where each player moves two different pieces in a single turn without the use of dice
. Games like Backgammon
and Risk
allow a player to move two or more different pieces in one turn, however, these games use dice. One other game that uses this concept is the L Game
by Edward De Bono
, and that game is also a modern invention.
There are 15 variants to this game. Neutron and some of its variants are some of the main games featured in Zillions of Games
.
The game has been solved to some degree. Analysis has shown that the first player wins. It is unknown whether the other variants have been solved or not, and to what degree.
Abstract strategy game
An abstract strategy game is a strategy game, aiming to minimise luck, and without a theme. Almost all abstract strategy games will conform to the strictest definition of: a board or card game, in which there is no hidden information, no non-deterministic elements , in which two players or teams...
invented by Robert A. Kraus. The game was first published in the Playroom section of Games & Puzzles
Games & Puzzles
Games & Puzzles was a magazine about games and puzzles. It was first published in May 1972 by Edu-Games Ltd. The first editor was Graeme Levin who recruited a variety of games and puzzles experts as writers and consultant editors including Darryl Francis, David Parlett, David Pritchard, Don...
71 in July/August 1978. It is a game where each player moves two different pieces in a single turn without the use of dice
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
. Games like Backgammon
Backgammon
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board. There are many variants of backgammon, most of which share common traits...
and Risk
Risk
Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity will lead to a loss . The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists . Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks"...
allow a player to move two or more different pieces in one turn, however, these games use dice. One other game that uses this concept is the L Game
L game
The L game is a simple strategic game invented by Edward de Bono.The L game is a two-player turn-based game played on a board of 4×4 squares. Each player has a 3×2 L-shaped piece, and there are two 1×1 neutral pieces. On each turn, a player first must move their L piece, and then...
by Edward De Bono
Edward de Bono
Edward de Bono is a physician, author, inventor, and consultant. He originated the term lateral thinking, wrote a best selling book Six Thinking Hats and is a proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking as a subject in schools.- Biography :Edward Charles Francis Publius de Bono was born to...
, and that game is also a modern invention.
There are 15 variants to this game. Neutron and some of its variants are some of the main games featured in Zillions of Games
Zillions of Games
Zillions of Games is a commercial General Game Playing system developed by Jeff Mallett and Mark Lefler in 1998. The game rules are specified with S expressions, Zillions rule language. It was designed to handle mostly abstract strategy board games or puzzles. After parsing the rules of the game,...
.
The game has been solved to some degree. Analysis has shown that the first player wins. It is unknown whether the other variants have been solved or not, and to what degree.
Goal
The goal of each player is to bring the Neutron to their home rank (the first rank on their side of the board). The player can either bring the Neutron to their home rank during their turn, or have the other player bring it over there which only normally happens if forced upon during their turn. The other way to win, is to stalemate the other player, that is, by not allowing the other player complete their turn which consist of moving the Neutron first, and then one of their soldiers (except on the first player's first turn where they can only move a soldier).Equipment
It is normally played on a 5 x 5 board. There are 15 variants to this game, and the size of the board may change. Each player has five soldiers. There is also a neutral piece called the Neutron that is played by both players.Rules and Game Play
- Each player's five soldiers are initially set up on the first rank of each player's side. The first rank is also called the home rank.
- One player plays the White soldiers, and the other plays the Black soldiers, however, any two colors or distinguishable pieces are appropriate.
- Soldiers move orthogonally or diagonally through or onto unoccupied spaces. They must also move as far as they can until they are blocked by a piece or find the edge of the board.
- The Neutron is initially located in the center of the board. The Neutron is played by both players in the game. It moves exactly like the soldiers.
- White or Black may start first. Players alternate their turns. The first player can only move a soldier. From there on, players must move the Neutron first, and then one of their soldiers to complete their turn. Therefore, each player is moving two pieces in their turn with the exception of the first player's first turn.
External links
- http://homepages.di.fc.ul.pt/~jpn/gv/neutron.htm
- http://www.gamecabinet.com/rules/Neutron.html
- http://web.archive.org/web/20091027063748/http://www.geocities.com/bob_kraus_2000/Zillions.html