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| The extended Yusui rules | 2009-09-09 17:30:08 |
| In this article I want to analyze the current situation with opening rules and to propose the new opening rules. |
At GA RIF 2008 some new opening rules were certified and it was decided that WC from 2009 till 2012 will be played by Yamaguchi rules. After this different tournaments started to use different certified opening rules, a lot of interesting games in new variants were played. Nevertheless, there exists the problem: what to do after 2012? The GA RIF 2012 must decide it but if it will not be any decision at RIF GA 2012 (because of the absence of a majority or because of a veto) then the RIF opening rules will be returned to WC and a situation will become even worse since the players will lose at WC a lot of already tried variants.
The Yamaguchi opening rules gave some set of new variants. The main visible disadvantage of Yamaguchi rules is a huge difference in the number of possible 5-move positions in different openings. For example, it is possible to play d2 or i2 with 7 5th moves, i4 with 5 or 6 5th moves, after it there exist a lot of 4th moves. So, 50-100 positions after the 5th move are possible in i2, d2, i4. At the same time in some openings (like d11, i1) only 1-2 positions after the 5th move are possible. It is impossible to play i13 at all. Also, the problem to escape from boring draw variants in d11 was not solved. At WC 2009 nobody of players played d11 regularly but it did not solve the problem that such player can appear.
At the same time the well-known argument of Japanese against Soosyrv or Taraguchi rules is that the player number two can escape from some theoretical variants. So, an “ignorance champion” can appear.
Japanese proposed the Yusui opening rules. These rules are described here:
http://globe28.renju.info/PageStudy/Yusui/YusuiMenu.php
Yusui opening rules increase slightly the number of playable variants. At the same time its keep the main disadvantage of Yamaguchi rules. The difference in the number of variants between different openings is huge. It is possible to play i13 with only 1 5th move whereas it is possible to play d2/i2 already with 8 5th moves. The problem to escape from d11 becomes even worse. If in RIF or Yamaguchi rules the second player could transfer d11(2) into i10 or d7, in Yusui rules it is possible to do it only with one 5th move.
Next, I want to propose the extension of Yusui rules and explain its advantages.
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THE EXTENDED YUSUI RULES
Before the start of a tournament or a single game the number NMAX is established.
The player number one puts one of 26 openings and declares the number of 5th alternative moves. This number can not exceed NMAX.
After this the player number two has two possibilities:
(1) to decrease the number of alternative moves (if this number is not 1);
(2) to say: “play”.
If at some step some player decreased the number of alternative moves then his opponent has two possibilities:
(1) to decrease the number of alternative moves (if the current number is not 1);
(2) to say: “play”.
If at some step a player A said “play” then
his opponent the player B plays the 4th move;
the player A chooses the color of stones;
black player puts the currently declared number of 5th moves;
white player choose one of them;
white player plays the 6th move;
the game continues by regular Renju rules.
END OF DESCRIPTION
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Remark. At WC 2009 in some games 7 5th moves were declared. Therefore, at high-level tournaments it is not reasonable to establish NMAX smaller than 7, opposite we will lose some already played variants. So, it is reasonably initially to put NMAX=7.
Remark: to indicate the action “play” it is convenient to put a white stone at an edge of a board.
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Example.
NMAX=7
The player number 1 puts i8 and declares 6 5th moves.
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(6)
The player number 2 decreases the number of 5th movers to 5.
The player number 1 decreases the number of 5th movers to 3.
The player number 2 says; “play”.
The player number 1 plays 4-h9.
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(3)
The player number 2 chooses the color.
Black player puts 3 5th moves.
White player choose one of them.
White player plays the 6th move
The game continues by regular Renju rules.
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ADVANTAGES OF EXTENDED YUSUI RULES.
I) THE PLAYER NUMBER 2 CAN NOT ESCAPE FROM CLASSIC THEORY since the player number 1 can put an opening and declare the minimal number of 5th moves possible for this opening or even smaller.
Example.
NMAX=7.
The player number 1 puts i12 and declares 2 5th moves. If the player number 2 will decrease 2 to 1 then he will have a big disadvantage. So, the player number 2 is forced to say: “play”.
The player number 1 plays 4-g9.
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(2)
The player number 2 chooses black stones.
The player number 1 tests the knowledge of the player number 1 in this variant.
So, THE “IGNORANCE CHAMPION” IS IMPOSSIBLE.
II) THE CONSERVATIVE PLAYER ALWAYS CAN ESCAPE FROM CRAZY VARIANTS.
Example.
NMAX=7.
The (crazy) player number 1 puts i13 and declares 7 5th moves.
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(7)
The (conservative) player number 2 decreases the number of 5th moves to 1.
The player number 1 is forced to say: “play”.
The player number 2 plays 4-g9.
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(1)
The player number 1 chooses the color.
Black player plays the 5th move.
They play a well-known variant.
III) TWO CRAZY PLAYERS CAN PLAY CRAZY VARIANT.
Example.
NMAX=7.
The (crazy) player number 1 puts i13 and declares 7 5th moves.
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(7)
The (crazy) player number 2 says: “play”.
The player number 1 plays 4-f10.
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(7)
The player number 2 chooses the color.
Black player puts 7 5th moves.
They play a crazy variant and develop a new opening theory.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO PLAY ALL OPENINGS WITH NMAX 5th MOVES. IT GIVES A LOT OF VARIANTS.
SPECIAL RULE TO ESCAPE FROM BORING DRAW OPENINGS.
The next rule is only for high-level tournaments. If it is recognized that some opening leads to a boring sure-draw variant then for this opening in the tournament regulation it can be established the minimal number of alternative moves for the declaration at the first step. For example, if it is accepted that d11(2) leads to a boring sure-draw variant then in a tournament regulation will be established that it is possible to put d11 only declaring at least 3 5th alternative moves. It follows that any player can escape from d11(2). Indeed, he will not put d11 as the player number 1 and if he will be the player number 2 and the opponent will put d11 with at least 3 5th moves then he can say “play” immediately. At the same time if two players want to play d11(2) both then they can do it:
Example.
NMAX=7.
The player number 1 puts d11 and declares 4 5th moves.
The player number 2 decreases the number of 5th alternative moves to 2.
The player number 1 says: “play”.
The player number 2 plays 4-i10.
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(2)
They play the standard variant of d11(2) by their mutual decision.
If during the following development of the opening theory it will be found that some other openings leads to a boring sure-draw variants then the minimal number of 5th moves for the first declaration can be established for these openings too.
RULES FOR BEGINNERS.
For tournament of beginners it is possible to set NMAX=1 or NMAX=2.
If NMAX=1 then rules are very close to the rules without alternatives only the player number 1 puts 4 moves instead of 3.
If NMAX=2 then rules are quite close to classic RIF rules.
Please, write your comments about the extended Yusui rules.
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