TECHNIQUE 4 OF 4
Passes and endings: legal moves decide when play continues
An empty square is not necessarily playable. Check both players' legal moves before deciding whether the turn changes normally, one player moves again or the game is over.
The rule and its limit
A player with no legal placement must pass. If the other player still has a move, play continues with that player; the interface handles this automatically. If neither can move, stop and count the discs. A player cannot choose to pass while a legal move exists, and the board need not be full for the game to end.
A common mistake
Passing because a legal move looks unattractive is not allowed. Declaring the game over when only one player has no move also skips the other player's remaining turns.
PLAYABLE EXAMPLE 1
No move means an automatic pass
Violet to move. Find a move that leaves the opponent unable to play. Does the mover get another turn, or do both players have no move and the game end?
Loading playable study…
Select a legal empty square. Violet (V) and Cream (C) are the two players. You control both sides here. Bracketed discs flip automatically; a player without a move passes automatically.
Keyboard: Tab to an enabled control, then press Enter or Space. The study starts from the diagram shown; reload can restore your own saved moves.
Try the task before inspecting the answer.
Compare the starting moves
R6C5: opponent passes and Violet continues. An empty square does not by itself guarantee that either player has a legal capture.
| First move | Immediate effect | Checked consequence |
|---|---|---|
| R2C1 | Flips 2: R2C2, R2C3. | Opponent has 1 legal reply. |
| R3C1 | Flips 2: R2C2, R3C2. | Opponent has 2 legal replies. |
| R3C6 | Flips 6: R2C5, R2C6, R3C5, R3C4, R4C5, R5C4. | Opponent has 4 legal replies. |
| R4C6 | Flips 5: R3C5, R4C5, R4C4, R4C3, R4C2. | Opponent has 4 legal replies. |
| R5C1 | Flips 1: R4C2. | Opponent has 2 legal replies. |
| R5C5 | Flips 4: R4C4, R4C5, R3C5, R2C5. | Opponent has 4 legal replies, including corner R6C6. |
| R6C1 | Flips 4: R5C2, R4C3, R3C4, R2C5. | Opponent has 2 legal replies. |
| R6C5 | Flips 1: R6C4. | Opponent has no legal move and passes; Violet moves again. |
PLAYABLE EXAMPLE 2
The game can end with empty squares
Violet to move. Find a move that leaves the opponent unable to play. Does the mover get another turn, or do both players have no move and the game end?
Loading playable study…
Select a legal empty square. Violet (V) and Cream (C) are the two players. You control both sides here. Bracketed discs flip automatically; a player without a move passes automatically.
Keyboard: Tab to an enabled control, then press Enter or Space. The study starts from the diagram shown; reload can restore your own saved moves.
Try the task before inspecting the answer.
Compare the starting moves
R5C5: neither player can move; finish at Violet 34, Cream 0. An empty square does not by itself guarantee that either player has a legal capture.
| First move | Immediate effect | Checked consequence |
|---|---|---|
| R5C5 | Flips 4: R4C4, R4C5, R5C4, R5C3. | Ends the game: Violet 34, Cream 0; Violet wins. |
| R6C5 | Flips 1: R5C4. | Opponent has 1 legal reply. |
A board with empty squares can already be finished
In a constructed six-by-six rule example, every square is Violet except R1C1 and R6C6, which are empty. There are no Cream discs.
The tempting move
Keep playing because two squares remain empty.
Why it fails
Violet has no opposing disc to bracket. Cream has no existing friendly endpoint to complete a bracket. Neither player can make a legal placement.
What you can conclude
The game is over despite the empty corners. The final count is Violet 34, Cream 0. This demonstrates the ending rule without claiming that the example is a recorded game.
Try the idea in another position
After Violet's move, Cream has no legal placement, but Violet has two. Is the game over, and whose move is next?
Check your reasoning
The game continues. Cream must pass, and Violet moves again. The interface keeps the turn with Violet. Only when both legal-move sets are empty should the final disc count decide the result.