Herfor 2024

Herfor (from Old Norse: herfǫr, meaning "war expedition") is a drawless territorial game for two players: Black and White. It is played on the intersections (points) of an initially empty hexagonal board with triangles. The recommended size is 6 cells per side, although boards of 5 or 7 are also valid. Each player has a sufficient supply of identical stones, each with one color on the front and the other on the back.

Definitions: A phalanx is a maximal set of stones of the same color connected in a straight line. A single stone is also a phalanx. An invading phalanx is one that, when formed or extended by the placement of a stone, ends up positioned between two enemy phalanxes located on the same straight line, occupying all empty points between them. The affected enemy phalanxes are invaded phalanxes. To flip is to replace an enemy stone with a friendly stone.

Turns:Black plays first and then turns alternate. On your turn, do the following actions in order:

Place a stone of your color on an empty spot not adjacent to friendly stones, unless you form an invading phalanx with it. Flip pairs of enemy phalanxes for each corresponding friendly phalanx you have formed or extended after your placement.

If you cannot place stones, pass your turn; otherwise, passing is not allowed.

End of the game:The game ends when both players pass on consecutive turns. The player with the most stones of their color on the board wins. To avoid ties, the player who passes first awards half an additional point to their opponent.

To balance the game, before starting, the first player chooses an integer as the komi value, and then the second player chooses a side. During the game, White may choose to spend one komi point instead of placing a stone. This balancing method is called the komi pie rule.

—description from the designer