PENTE

The Board

Pente is played on a 19×19 board. The first stone of the game must be placed on the center point. After that, stones may be placed on any empty intersection.

Winning

You win by getting five or more of your own stones in an unbroken row — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You also win if you capture five pairs of your opponent's stones (10 stones total).

Captures

If you place a stone so that exactly two of your opponent's stones are flanked by two of yours on both ends of a straight line, those two stones are captured and removed from the board.

Safety

You cannot be captured by voluntarily walking into a flanking position — captures only happen when the capturing stone is actively placed to complete the sandwich.

Strategy

Pairs of stones are vulnerable. A long line of four is strong but exposed at its flanks. Balance offense and defense: sometimes capturing beats building a row, and sometimes a capture opens up a winning line.