Eynsteyn Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Object of the Game
• Components
• Setup
• Game Flow
  • Preparation Phase
  • Playing Phase
  • Blockade
  • Calling EYNSTEYN
  • End of the Game
• Tactics
• Strategy Tips

Object of the Game

EYNSTEYN is a tactical tile-laying game for 2 players.

The goal of EYNSTEYN is to connect two opposite edges of the board with one continuous line. The line is formed by placing the stones next to each other, which the two players set alternately. The line does not need to run directly; it may take as many detours and loops as desired. Both players may use parts of the same line for their connection. A line can change direction only at a curve, not at a crossing.

The winner is the player who first creates a continuous line between the two edges of the board.

Components

• One game board
• 120 square stones
• 10 marker stones
• One rulebook

Setup

• The stones are shuffled face down and divided into 5 stacks of roughly equal size. The stacks are placed next to the game board. The sides of the stones showing lines are face up.
• The players draw stones from the stacks in turn until each has 10 stones in front of them.
• Each player receives five marker stones.
• It is decided by lot who begins and which board edges each player connects: light grey or dark grey.

Game Flow

EYNSTEYN consists of two game phases.

Preparation Phase

Players take turns placing one stone on any square of the board. Stones may at most lie on diagonally adjacent squares, never on directly adjacent ones. Players should place the stones so that as many paths as possible remain open for them in the second game phase.

The preparation phase ends when all 20 stones have been placed.

Playing Phase

Players alternately draw stones from the 5 stacks again until each player has eight stones in total available.

The previously determined starting player begins with their first turn.

A turn consists of three steps:

1. The player places one of their eight stones on any square. The restrictions of the first phase no longer apply, i.e. a stone may also be placed on a square next to one or more stones already lying there. In this way it becomes possible to build a continuous line step by step from the pieces formed in the first phase.
2. The player may now place one of their marker stones on any stone to secure it (see also under: Tactics).
3. The player takes a new stone from one of the five stacks.

After that, the opponent takes their turn.

Blockade

On every turn a player may try to block the opponent's potential winning line. At the beginning of the game this is relatively easy: one places a stone with a dead end against the opponent's line so that the line ends there.

Later in the game this will no longer be so easy. Then a player can also block by placing one stone on top of another stone that is already lying there. In doing so, one should take care not to destroy one's own line, and ideally to create new branches for oneself.

When blocking by covering, three rules must be observed:

1. Only stones that are surrounded on all four sides by other stones may be covered. (Therefore stones on the edge of the board may never be covered.)
2. A maximum of four stones may lie on top of each other. The fourth stone is final until the end of the game. Accordingly, it is not necessary to secure a fourth stone with a marker stone.
3. A stone on which a marker stone lies may not be covered.

Calling EYNSTEYN

A player who needs only one more stone to create a continuous connection must call "EYNSTEYN". A win without a call is invalid: the corresponding stone is then taken back and the player must pass. The only exception to this rule is when a player places a stone that enables their opponent to win with a stone.

End of the Game

A player who completes the connecting line between their opposite edges with the called stone wins the game.

Tactics

The tactical possibilities of EYNSTEYN are quickly found by oneself in a few games. Some points are nevertheless briefly addressed here.

Since stones on the edge may not be covered, one should create several connection points for one's own line. A line that must run over a single stone at a board edge is very easy to destroy.

Strategy Tips

(From the strategy-tip panel printed on the back of the booklet cover.)

• One should try to create several winning possibilities at the same time, so that each one can become a continuous connection with one stone. The opponent has only one turn to block, so they cannot block everything. This can be done, for example, by placing a stone on which one's own line branches; one can then secure that stone with a marker stone.
• It can make sense to use the opponent's line for one's own line. The opponent is then often forced to block by destroying their own line as well.
• Marker stones should only be placed when stones are extremely important for one's own line, or when it is the only way to permanently block the opponent's line. Marker stones, once placed, cannot be moved.
• If the opponent calls "EYNSTEYN", one should, as far as possible, prevent the completion of the opponent's line with a marker stone, while advancing one's own line with the stone one places.
• When taking new stones one should proceed differently depending on whether one is on the defensive or on the offensive at that moment. In the first case one should take stones with dead ends, or at least stones with simpler line routing, from the 5 stacks. In the second case one should take stones that open up many new branches.