Renju

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Renju or Lianzhu (Japanese/Chinese: 連珠) is the professional variant of Gomoku, a board game originated from Japan in Heian Period. It was named Renju by Japanese journalist Ruikou Kuroiwa (黒岩涙香) in December 6, 1899 in a Japanese newspaper Yorozu chouhou (萬朝報) . Lianzhu is a Chinese translation of Renju. It is played with black and white stones on a 15x15 intersection Go board. Renju eliminates the "Perfect Win"-situation in Gomoku by adding special conditions for the first player (Black).

Contents

[edit] Rules and Opening Sequence

Black can win the game only by placing five black stones in a row (vertically, horizontally or diagonally).

White can win by either:

  • getting five (or more) white stones in a row
  • forcing Black to make a forbidden move (see below).

The opening sequence differs from ordinary Gomoku:

  1. The first player places 2 black stones and 1 white stone on the board.
  2. The second player now chooses whether to play black or white.
  3. White then places one more stone on the board.
  4. Black places 2 stones on the board.
  5. White removes one of the two black stones from the previous move.
  6. White places a white stone.

After this sequence is complete, Black and White continue to take turns to place their stones.

There are certain moves that Black is not allowed to make:

  • Double three - Black cannot place a stone that builds two separate lines with three black stones in unbroken rows (i.e. rows not blocked by white stones).
  • Double four - Black cannot place a stone that builds two separate lines with four black stones in a row.
  • Overline - six or more black stones in a row.

[edit] World Championships

World Championships in Renju have occurred every second year, since 1989.[1]

Previous World Championships have taken place in the following places:

  • 1989: Kyoto, Japan
  • 1991: Moscow, USSR
  • 1993: Arjeplog, Sweden
  • 1995: Tallinn, Estonia
  • 1997: Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • 1999: Beijing, China
  • 2001: Kyoto, Japan
  • 2003: Vadstena, Sweden
  • 2005: Tallinn, Estonia
  • 2007: Tyumen, Russia

The next World Championship will take place either in Czech Republic or in China.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links