1960
Black Path Game
2–2 players · 5 min
This elegant little game is playable on a rectangular grid with square Trax-like tiles, each of which has 2 black lines connecting pairs of sides (either opposite pairs of sides, or adjacent pairs of sides). Players alternate placing tiles, each tile extending the black path from a designated start arrow at the side of the board. If a player connects the path to the edge of the board, they lose.
The game is analyzed and solved in the combinatorial game theory book Winning Ways for Your Mathematical Plays (pages 746-747, volume 3 of A K Peters 2003 edition). The first player can win if the grid has an even number squares, and the second player can win if the grid has an odd number of squares.
Rules and strategy
Source knowledge for this edition still needs preparation or review.
Prepare rules knowledge
Source rules are needed before we can answer reliably.
Sign in to submit a rulebookAsk about Black Path Game
Answers show their sources. When the evidence is missing or unclear, we’ll say so.