Tips mattock: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:08, 11 April 2021

Links

There is a quick strategy primer on the second page of the rules: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3trr68e92xi45ps/Mattock.pdf?dl=1

90-second strategy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7fE9JPw4F8

This article is a good in-depth strategy guide: https://www.abstractgames.org/mattock.html

Protect Open Spaces Around the Edge of the Board

As you mine and remove, you will eventually link your miners together and split the board’s territory with your opponent.

The last player who can mine wins, so whoever has more open space to mine in their own territory will win. In the endgame, the open spaces will usually be around the edge of the board. Protect edge spaces by blocking choke points with your miners, and building shapes that block your opponent's connections.

Block Your Opponent Using the 3 Basic Shapes

No tile can ever touch more than 3 other tiles. So, when a tile touches exactly 3 other tiles, all of the adjacent open spaces are blocked. There are only 3 ways that a tile can touch 3 other tiles, making 3 basic shapes: the t-rex, whirligig, and diamond. These shapes are described in the rules, strategy article, and strategy video.

Each time you mine, think about which of the 3 basic shapes you will make and how you will use them to protect edge spaces from your opponent.

Protect Your Miners From Removal

Create shapes that prevent your opponent from separating and removing your miners.

When you remove an opponent miner, check to make sure that your opponent can't reply by removing your own miners in return.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-For the best strategy information, see this illustrated article: https://www.abstractgames.org/mattock.html
+__NOTOC__
+== Links ==
-There is also a quick strategy primer on the second page of the rules: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3trr68e92xi45ps/Mattock.pdf?dl=1
+There is a quick strategy primer on the second page of the rules: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3trr68e92xi45ps/Mattock.pdf?dl=1
 -second strategy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7fE9JPw4F8
+This article is a good in-depth strategy guide: https://www.abstractgames.org/mattock.html
-The last player who can mine wins, so you need access to more open space to mine than your opponent. In the endgame, these open spaces will usually be around the edge of the board. Protect edge spaces by blocking choke points with your miners, and building shapes that block your opponent's connections.
+== Protect Open Spaces Around the Edge of the Board ==
-Remember, no tile can ever touch more than 3 other tiles. So, when a tile touches exactly 3 other tiles, all of the adjacent open spaces are blocked. There are only 3 ways that a tile can touch 3 other tiles, making 3 basic shapes that are described in the rules PDF, strategy article, and strategy video.
+As you mine and remove, you will eventually link your miners together and split the board’s territory with your opponent.
-Create shapes that prevent your opponent from separating and removing your miners.
+The last player who can mine wins, so whoever has more open space to mine in their own territory will win. In the endgame, the open spaces will usually be around the edge of the board. Protect edge spaces by blocking choke points with your miners, and building shapes that block your opponent's connections.
+== Block Your Opponent Using the 3 Basic Shapes ==
-When you remove an opponent miner, check to make sure that your opponent can't reply by removing your miner and invading your territory.
+No tile can ever touch more than 3 other tiles. So, when a tile touches exactly 3 other tiles, all of the adjacent open spaces are blocked. There are only 3 ways that a tile can touch 3 other tiles, making 3 basic shapes: the t-rex, whirligig, and diamond. These shapes are described in the rules, strategy article, and strategy video.
 Each time you mine, think about which of the 3 basic shapes you will make and how you will use them to protect edge spaces from your opponent.
+== Protect Your Miners From Removal ==
+Create shapes that prevent your opponent from separating and removing your miners.
+When you remove an opponent miner, check to make sure that your opponent can't reply by removing your own miners in return.