Infinito 2013

Infinito is an abstract game for two player with a theoretical infinite moves per turns, i.e. theoretical infinite branching factor, but with finite number of turns. A finite version of the game is Myriades.

Infinito is played on a square board, preferably 8×8 or larger. One player owns the black stones, the other player owns the white stones. Gray neutral stones are needed.

Each player has an infinite number of stones, each printed with a unique natural number: 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on…

Players move alternately, starting with the player controlling the white stones. Each turn consists of two actions, performed in this order:

1. OPTIONAL MOVE: you can move a stone like a Queen in Chess, i.e. any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. If your stone ends its move (orthogonally or diagonally) next to one or more enemy stones whose value is lower than your stone, and your stone was not next to those enemy stones at the start of the move, replace any of your stones on the board — except the one you just moved — with a neutral gray stone marked “∞”. If you end the move next to multiple enemy stones with a lower value, you must replace one of your stones for each of them. When you remove your stones from the board, they return to your supply and may be placed again later.

2. COMPULSORY PLACEMENT: you must place a stone onto any empty square.

The game ends when the board is full. The player with the lowest total wins.