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Tips churn

2026-09-23T22:01:14Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING makes a much larger group, and is therefore much stronger, but it is only allowed when you cannot EXPAND, since the rules obligate you to make the smallest possible group each turn.

Two heuristics follow:

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing you to CONNECT.

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T22:00:34Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING makes a much larger group, and is therefore much stronger, but it is only allowed when you cannot EXPAND, since the rules obligate you to make the smallest possible group each turn.

Two heuristics follow:

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing to you CONNECT.

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T22:00:20Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING makes a much larger group, and is therefore much stronger, but it is only allowed when you cannot EXPAND, since the rules obligate you to make the smallest possible group each turn.

Two heuristics follow:

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing to you CONNECT

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T21:59:47Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING makes a much larger group, and is therefore much stronger, but it is only allowed when you cannot EXPAND, since the rules obligate you to make the smallest possible group each turn.

This implies two strategic goals:

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing to you CONNECT

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T21:57:56Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING makes a much larger group, and is therefore much stronger, but it is only allowed when you cannot EXPAND, since the rules obligate you to make the smallest possible group each turn.

So here are two heuristics for playing Churn:

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing to you CONNECT

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T21:57:12Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING makes a much larger group, and is therefore much stronger, but it is only allowed when you cannot EXPAND, since you are obligated to make the smallest possible group each turn.

So here are two heuristics for playing Churn:

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing to you CONNECT

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T21:54:40Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING is much stronger, since it makes a much larger group, but EXPANDING is required by the rules if possible, since you're obligated to make the smallest possible group each turn.

So here are two heuristics for playing Churn:

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing to you CONNECT

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T21:54:16Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING is much stronger, since it makes a much larger group, but EXPANDING is required by the rules if possible, since you're obligated to make the smallest possible group each turn.

1. Try to make sure you DON'T have legal expansions, forcing to you CONNECT

2. Try to make sure your opponent DOES have legal expansions, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T21:53:03Z

Ahrnge:

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways this can happen: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, or CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING is much stronger, since it makes a much larger group, but EXPANDING is required by the rules if possible, since you're obligated to make the smallest possible group each turn.

1. Try to make sure EXPANDING is impossible for yourself, forcing you to CONNECT.

2. Try to make sure EXPANDING is possible for your opponent, forcing them to EXPAND.

Tips churn

2026-09-23T21:44:58Z

Ahrnge: CONNECT, don't EXPAND

The pivotal moment of Churn is when a player makes a new largest group.

There are two ways to make a new largest group: EXPANDING a group by adding one stone to it, and CONNECTING two existing groups by adding a stone between them.

CONNECTING is much stronger, since it makes a much larger group, but EXPANDING is required by the rules if possible, since you're obligated to make the smallest possible group each turn.

A good heuristic for playing Churn, then, is to try to force yourself to CONNECT, and force your opponent to EXPAND.