A"er-SchoolGameAc/vi/es

GertSchnider(Austria)

GertSchnider

•  ChessFIDE-Master,Elo2403•  Go5-Dan,3-/mesAustrianChampion

•  Shogi3-DanEurope/5-DanJapan;Winnerof2ndinterna/onalShogi-ForumTokio2001

•  AbaloneWorldChampion1999-2000

•  Decamentathlonworldchampion2000

•  Playinglotsofothergames,wontournamentsinapprox.15differentboardandcardgames

Playingstrength

•  Howtogetstrongatoneormoregames?•  HowcanIplaydifferentgamesatmasterlevel?

•  Whichcomponentsareimportantforplayingstrength?

•  Interes/ngandentertainingwaystoimprove

Componentsofplayingstrength

•  Knowledge(rules,typicalstrategiesandpaZerns,openings/joseki/fuseki,endings,tac/calmo/fs/tesuji,…)

•  Evalua/on/Posi/onaljudgement(objec/vity!)

•  Reading/calcula/onability(visualisa/on,systema/csearch,abilitytoanalyze)

•  Physicalandmentalfactors(physicalfitness,willpower,figh/ngspirit,concentra/on,…)

Whatdoyouneedinallgames?

•  Physicalandmentalfactors•  Reading/Calcula-onability

Ithink,youcanimproveyourreading/calcula/onabilitybysolvingpuzzlesandanalyzingposi/onsindifferentgames.Youcanevenbecomemuchstrongeratagamewithoutactuallyplayingit!

Example

•  Afriendplayedchessandquit5yearsagowithra/ng1700becausehebegantoplaygo.

•  Ingohestudieddiligentlyandis3Dannow.•  Some/mesheaZendsmychesslecturesandsolvesproblemsthere–intac/calproblemsandespeciallystudiesheperformsmuchbeZerthanmostofmyotherstudents(ra/ngsaround2000)

Games/problemsforanalysis

Thefollowinggamescanbeplayedwithonlypen&paper:

•  Nimandsimilargames

•  Noughtsandcrosses(/ctactoe,3D-versions,FourinaRow,…)

•  5inarow(gomoku,renju)

•  TwixT

5piratesofdifferentagehaveatreasureof100goldcoins

Ontheirship,theydecidetosplitthecoinsusingthisscheme:

Theoldestpirateproposeshowtosharethecoins,andALLpirates(includingtheoldest)votefororagainstit.

If50%ormoreofthepiratesvoteforit,thenthecoinswillbesharedthatway.Otherwise,thepirateproposingtheschemewillbethrownoverboard,andtheprocessisrepeatedwiththeremainingpirates.

Assumingthatall5piratesareintelligent,ra/onal,greedy,anddonotwishtodie,(andarerathergoodatmathforpirates)–whatwillhappen?

Nim

•  Averygoodexampleforshowinghowtoanalyzeagameisnim;myfavoritevaria/onisshownontheright:

•  Morerowsorotherstar/ngposi/onsarepossible.

AnalyzingNim

•  Thefirstformofanalysisoneshouldlearnisbruteforce–justtryingoutallpossiblevaria/ons.For5-row-nimthisalreadytakesquitesome/me,asthereare15star/ngmoves,10-14movesforthesecondplayerandsoon.

•  Agoodideatosolveacomplexproblemistosplititintosmallerproblemsorsolvespecialsitua/onsfirst

AnalyzingNim2

•  1-row-nimistwinningforthefirstplayer•  2-row-nim:only3differentstar/ngmoves–easytosolve.Winforfirstplayer.

•  3-row-nim:Lossforfirstplayer–verifyyourself!

•  4-row-nim:As3-rowistlosingjusttakethe4throw.

•  5-row-nim:Onewinistaking1matchinthelastrow.Thereare2iden/calrows+3-row-nim

Solu/on5pirates

•  Solvethispuzzlethesamewayas5-row-nim•  Startwith2pirates:Thefirstproposes100-0!Hisownvoteisenoughtowin(50%).

•  3pirates:99-0-1•  4pirates:99-0-1-0•  5pirates:98-0-1-0-1

3Dnoughtsandcrosses

Picture:www.papg.com

Gomoku/renju

Picture:www.renju.net

TwixT

Picture:twixt.wikifoundry.com

Conclusion

•  Inmyschool/meIplayedallthesegameswithmyclassmatesandimprovedmyanaly/calskillsbystudyingthem.Thiswasthefounda/onofmy‚gamingcareer‘.

•  Pen&Paper-gameshavetheadvantage,thatyoucanplaythemeverywhereandtheyarequicklylearnedandplayed.

Contact

•  Ifinterestedintrainings,workshopsorpresenta/onsyouarewelcometocontactme:

•  gert.schnider@a1.net

•  0043(0)6646364258