Splink 2012

Splink (SP + link) is a ball-stacking game that can be played with a Series: Shibumi set, as it uses a 4x4 holes board and balls in two colours (white and red).

RULES

2 players ('attractor' and 'repulsor') share a supply of 16 red and 16 white balls.

Splink has two types of game play:

- Duel: The players play two complete games, switching roles after the first game. Whoever gets the maximum score as the 'attractor' wins.

- Bid: Before the game starts, players take turns increasing bids as to how many ponts they think they can make playing the 'attractor' role. The player who passes first plays the 'repulsor'; the other player plays the 'attractor' and must get as many points as he bid to win.

The board starts empty. Starting with 'attractor', players take turns either:

a) placing TWO balls, one of each colour, on ANY TWO valid locations (empty spaces or 2x2 platforms) or...

b) removing a ball from the board that supports exactly ONE ball on the level above and placing a new one of the other colour from the supply onto the board on any valid location; even on top of the dropped balls. Notice that you can only do this action if there is at least one ball on the supply of a different colour of the ball that you want to remove.

GAME END

The game ends when the pyramid has been completed.

SCORING

To get the attractor's score, count the number of all different red-white visible connections on the pyramid (the 5 inner balls don't count for connections). A red ball and a white ball must be touching to consider it a connection.

VARIANT

Consider an unlimited supply for both colours.

Included in the Shibumi Rule Book

Soft cover:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/cameron-browne-and-nestor-romeral-andres/shibumi-rule-book/paperback/product-18940123.html

Downloadable PDF:

http://www.nestorgames.com/rulebooks/SHIBUMI_EN.pdf