If
the players are of different strengths, the stronger player might
give the weaker player some sort of handicap. For example,
the weaker player could move first, and "swap" would not be allowed.
This is called giving the handicap of the first move.
For
an even stronger handicap, Alex
Randolph suggests letting the weaker player make two initial
first moves. There is another way of handicapping, which is not
standard TwixT, but seems to work well: change one dimension of
the board, so the weaker player has a shorter distance to bridge
across. This can be indicated on the board by stretching a rubber
band across, where the new border line will be.
Here
is a handicap game where I gave four rows plus first move to my
opponent:
|
White
|
Black
|
|
Mark
Thompson
|
David
Bush
|
|
1.J10
|
2.K15
|
|
3.Q13
|
4.P6
|
|
5.N6
|
6.O12
|
|
7.N12
|
–
|
An
immediate 7.H15 looks faster.
|
–
|
8.M11-
|
|
9.Q9
|
10.Q17
|
|
11.N16
|
–
|
11.O14**
looks stronger. This threatens P16* on the bottom.
If
then 12.O18* 13.L17, or if 12.L13** 13.O8**, or if
12.P10* 13.L11**. After 11.N16, I can ALMOST break
through...
|
–
|
12.N14*
|
|
13.O14**
|
14.P10*
|
|
15.P11**
|
16.Q8**
|
|
17.S8*
|
18.T6
|
|
19.T5
|
20.S4*
|
|
21.H15!
|
–
|
...
but not quite. I was hoping my opponent wouldn't find this.
Now
his connection to J10 is very strong.
I believe
nothing else would have worked either. The big problem for me here
is, White could answer my I16* with F14*. If I had
tried 22.H10, White had 23.H11*.
|
23.I13*
|
24.K10*
|
|
25.H11**
|
26.I9*
|
At
this point, I was hoping my opponent would allow me to grab a draw
with 27.G8? 28.F8 29.E9* 30.H7** 31.F7* 32.H10* 33.H9* 34.F9*
35.F11* 36.E11* 37.H8 38.G9* 39.I10.
But
instead he played:
I would
have resigned after 29.D6. Now I thought I had a shot...
But
the flaw in my analysis is revealed! Now 32.K5* doesn't work
because of 33.K7** 34.M4* 35.O4*.
I
emphatically welcome all questions, both general and specific, as
well as any comments you may care to send me! My email is: twixt@cstone.net
-
David
J. Bush
