TANDEMS

Copyright (c) 2000 ??

This game is played on the following 5x5 square board:

 
  • TURN - On each turn, each player must move two friendly stones to adjacent (diagonal or orthogonal) empty cells, both in the same direction.
    • Stones cannot move into the red dots.
  • GOAL - Wins the player that first move his 5 stones to the last row.
 
An example

White's turn. He moves a4-a5 & c3-c4 (both moved north). Black is going to lose the race. In the next turn, White will win next move with c4-b5 & e4-d5 (both moved northeast).  

This game is described here (I wish to thank Lada Urbanova for this link). Despite the nice idea of the double related move, it is easy to use a drawish tactic (never move one friendly stone).

Some words from L. Lynn Smith: I've got a simple solution to that possible draw position in Tandems. A rule that if the far rank is filled with stones with at least a friendly one the player has won. For example, if White was to move onto the far rank which is filled with four Black stones, the White player would win. This would force the opposing player to move those stones. I've used this rule in Halma-style games and it appears to be quite effective at getting the opposing player out of that home territory.

There is a ZRF to play Tandems with Zillions.