Intermediate Omok Guide Introduction Hello all, Confidence here! The purpose of this guide is to show an example game where the reader is walked through the thought process behind each move. In each picture, the sequence of moves is numbered for the reader to follow along. In my opinion, the best way to use this guide is to simply visualize placing stones in that numbered sequence and understand why each move occurs ("if I go here, then he has to go there, then I'll go here, then he'll go there, and then I'll have lethal"). This guide covers a game from the perspective of having the first move. Keep in mind that the first turn player generally plays offensively, and the second player defensively. Disclaimer: Throughout the game, there are a couple moments where either Mush or Slime have opportunities to win outside of what is shown (can you find them?). However the purpose of the guide is not to show a perfect game, but rather to detail different scenarios that may arise, and explore different ways of approaching them. #peachrepresent! Listen to hype music when playing, it helps get you in the zone (tip creds to @Orsin). I recommend this: https://tinyurl.com/y95qjo77 Terminology Open 2 2 in a row open on both sides. Double Open 2 Two open 2's at once. Note that even with a gap, this still counts as an open 2, as placing an additional stone results in an open 3. Open 3 3 in a row open on both sides. If one more stone is placed adjacent to make an open 4 in a row, this is almost always an automatic win. Note that even with a gap, the second scenario also counts as an open 3, as connecting the pieces creates an open 4. Closed 3 3 in a row with one side blocked. Closed 4 4 pieces with one side blocked. 4-3 A closed 4 + open 3. Note that the 3 must be open, not closed. The method by which most games are won. Thus do not complete closed 3's just for the sake of making closed 4's - they should be used as an important resource to create game ending plays. Lethal Term for when the player is guaranteed to win if he places in the correct positions. Having the Offensive Having the freedom to place anywhere you choose, i.e. attacking instead of defending. [Mush's move] This means that in the corresponding picture, it is Mush's turn to move. Gameplay If going first, and opponent places directly to your side, you should cut across him diagonally as shown above, instead of away from him on the other side (tip creds to @Tomfoolery). Mush then connects the two pieces to make: I currently open most of my games with this mushie pyramid. The reason is because it creates a double open 2 - regardless of which open 2 the opponent blocks, the other is available to extend into an open 3. However if the boardstate is in such a fashion that I am unable to make double open 2’s, I will generally not make this pyramid (and instead make something like a diagonal closed 3). [Mush's move] Here if Mush places to the left to make the open 3, Slime’s counterblock on the right will create his own diagonal open 3 (causing Mush to lose the offensive). If Mush places to the right, and then Slime blocks to the left, Mush has no more attacks to make after extending to make the closed 4, as shown below. However in this case I still think it’s the right move to make: [Mush's move] Note that no matter where Mush places here, the offensive will be passed over to Slime as Mush can no longer press the attack. We are now presented with 3 options, a decision which will determine the rest of the game: Place at 1 so as to block Slime’s open 2 + closed 2 (most defensive move). Place at 2, which blocks Slime’s open 2 and simultaneously creates an open 2 for mush (half defensive and half offensive move). Place at 3, which creates double open 2’s and a closed 3 for Mush (3 attack points) but does not block any Slimes (most offensive move). As I prefer an aggressive playstyle, the rest of this guide explores what happens when we pick this third option. [Mush's move] Mush goes with the aggressive third option, then Slime makes 2 more moves, creating the above scenario, and it is now Mush’s turn. Can you tell where the stones were placed between this and the last picture, and in what order? Going for the purely offensive third option creates the precarious situation above, where if Mush does not block at the spot marked 3 (and instead blocks on the other side), Slime has lethal by placing stones in the indicated order. Thus in order to make double-edged, hyper aggressive moves like the third option, Mush must have the ability to think multiple moves ahead. Mush blocks at 3. In order to see why Slime has lethal (informally termed “do you see it lol”), try to visualize each move Slime makes, as well as each move Mush makes in response. If Mush does not block at 3, and Slime places in the indicated order, is there any way Mush can avoid lethal? im Paint mastr [Mush's move] Note that Slime has placed a stone to create an open 3 between this picture and the last. If Mush does not block at the spot marked 2, Slime again has lethal by placing in the indicated sequence. Mush blocks at 2. [Slime's move] Due to Mush's calculated defense, Slime is now running out of offensive moves. He does not yet want to place at 1, because it is currently his only way to make a closed 4, which is needed in order to make a game winning 4-3. Placing at 2 or 3 would cause Mush to place at 4, disrupting the infrastructure Slime has been building up. Placing at 4 seems the last ideal spot left, as it creates an open 3 and open 2. [Mush's move] Mush must block Slime’s open 3 at either the spot marked a or 2. However if he does not place at 2, Slime again has lethal by placing in the indicated sequence. Mush blocks at 2. [Slime's move] The green sequence indicates the spots Slime places to produce the scenario below. Note that attacking at 1 results in a brief relinquishing of the offensive to Mush (who makes an open 3), which is quickly taken back by placing at 2, creating an offensive closed 4, allowing Slime to resume the attack by placing at 3 to create an open 3. [Mush's move] Mush must block at a or b. However if he does not place at b, Slime has utterly unavoidable lethal by placing in the indicated sequence, as all four moves create closed or open 4’s that must be blocked immediately. Mush blocks at b. Again, try to visualize each move. [Slime's move] The indicated spots are slime’s only options remaining to attack. He places in all four of them, and Mush responds accordingly (because they are all closed 4’s, there is only a single possible response per move for Mush). [Slime's move] Slime is now well and truly boxed in. Also note that Slime has mistakenly allowed Mush to regain the offensive by placing in spot 4 in the last scenario, as mush has created a diagonal open 3 at the top by blocking the closed 4. Slime must now block at 1. [Mush's move] Note that the infrastructure on the right created by Mush’s aggressive third option towards the beginning of the game has been largely untouched throughout the entire game. Now that Mush finally has the offensive, he can capitalize on the investment he made, resulting in lethal in 6 moves, in the indicated sequence. In effect, the aggressive third option made long ago now wins Mush the game the moment he is allowed a free move. Again, try to visualize each move. This is the most difficult scenario to visualize, as it requires the most moves. Mush wins. Good game! Conclusion In summary: As a rule of thumb, players should prioritize moves that create as many attack points as possible (e.g. when faced between a move that will create one open 2 vs a move that will create an open 2 + closed 2, I will generally prioritize the latter if all else is equal). Practice thinking multiple moves ahead! That concludes this guide. Hopefully it provided some insight into thinking ahead when playing the game. If you ever want to play Omok, send me a friend request at Confidence Thanks for reading!
