Take-Back-Toe
Take-Back-Toe Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components and Setup
Take-Back-Toe is an abstract game for two players. You will need the following components:
- 40 objects: stones, poker chips, coins, etc.
- One 6-sided die
The playing area is an imaginary 3x4 grid. You can use a printed board if you wish, but it's completely optional.
Put a stack of 10 chips in each of the four spaces across the middle row, as shown below. We say "stack of chips" but if your objects don't stack, that doesn't matter. All that matters is the number of objects in each space.
Player 1's row
10 10 10 10
Neutral Row
Player 2's row
(The rulebook diagram shows three rows: Player 1's row at the top, the Neutral Row in the middle with a stack of 10 in each of its four spaces, and Player 2's row at the bottom.)
Rules
Players take turns.
Start your turn by rolling the die. You must now move that number of chips from one space to an adjacent space (orthogonally, not diagonally).
You can move the chips from any single space.
No Short Moves: You must move exactly as many chips as the number you roll. If you can't move (for example, you roll a 6 and all the stacks are 5 or less), you skip your turn.
No Take-Backs: You cannot make a move that reverses your opponent's last move. You don't have to remember any farther back than this; revisiting older game states is legal.
Winning: To win, you must have three stacks of the same size, anywhere within your row.
Extended Play
Alternate who goes first.
After each game, the winner scores points based on the height of his winning stacks. For example, if you won with stacks of five, you earn five points.
Strategy
Try to arrange your side of the board so that several different rolls will give you a winning move. Prevent your opponent from doing the same.