Crosswind 2024

Crosswind is a connection game for two players: Black and White. It is played on the intersections (points) of an initially empty square grid (board). The top and bottom edges of the board are colored black; the left and right edges are colored white. Some definitions:

Naked diagonal: a pair of diagonally adjacent stones of the same color with no other like-colored stone adjacent to both. Bend: a 2×n pattern with two like-colored stones in opposite corners, a stone of the opposite color in another corner and no other stones. Switch: a 2×n pattern with two black stones in opposite corners, two white stones in opposite corners and no other stones. Loose crosscut: a 3×3 pattern with five empty points, two black stones in opposite corners and two white stones in opposite corners.

Black plays first, then turns alternate. On your turn, place a stone of your color on an empty point. After your placement, there must be no naked diagonals, no switches, no loose crosscuts and no more than one bend on the board. You cannot pass your turn unless you have no legal moves.

You win if there is a chain of orthogonally interconnected stones of your color touching the two opposite board edges of your color.

To make the game fair, White will have the option, on their first turn only, to swap sides with Black instead of making a regular move.