Still, Ataxx is no Othello, and it requires substantially more cunning to win. When the game starts, there are four pieces on the board, two light and two dark, sitting at opposing corners. When you click one of your pieces, your valid moves are highlighted by a light-colored piece around your own. Click a square right next to one of your pieces and a new piece appears. Click one further away and your current piece jumps to that position, hopping over (but not capturing) other pieces in the process. If your piece lands next to your opponent's piece, or pieces, all of those pieces adjacent to your piece flip and change to your color (see Figure 19-2).Īre the games starting to feel too easy for you? Click Settings on the menu bar and select Preferences to bring up a two-tabbed configuration dialog. Under the Players tab, you see an entry for the light player and one for the dark. One, or both, can be human players, but if you want to play against the computer, select a skill level from either the light or the dark side.Īs with a number of these seemingly simple games, there is far more to it than you might initially think. It's also far more addictive than it looks. When you play the game for the first time, you may find that it takes a few seconds to get started. The program is busy setting things up for you. You see a message, Computing Basic Strategy. , while a progress bar informs you of this process.
What does one say to explain a game like Blackjack? After all, it is a classic that almost everyone (over a certain age) has played. Here's the short version, in case you are among those who have never heard of the game.
The dealer, your computer in this case, deals cards for you and itself. Your job is to get as close to 21 without going over, and getting a higher number than the dealer. Over 21 is a bust and you automatically lose. Face cards are worth 10, and Aces can count as either 1 or 11. When the game starts, you find yourself looking at a casino-like table with your cash chips at the bottom and the cards dealt to the right of center (see Figure 19-3). That's where all the action takes place.Īlong the top of the game table, it identifies the game rules as Vegas Strip, the default. This particular Blackjack program comes with four different sets of rules including Atlantic City, Ameristar, Vegas Downtown, and Vegas Strip. To change to a different set of rules, click Settings on the menu bar and select Preferences. The configuration dialog lets you change rules and lists the differences in those rules. You can also choose to display the hand probabilities, adjust the delay in dealing, and whether or not you take insurance on a hand.Īs anyone who has played this game can tell you, there's more to it than the luck of the draw. While you are busy learning the skills of the game, you can click the Hint button (under the menu bar) at any time to obtain a suggestion from the computer. The idea is simple, line up five or more marbles of the same color. When you do, those marbles disappear and you are rewarded with points. The more marbles you can line up and make disappear, the higher your score.
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