Arimaa Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Arimaa Forum
        (http://arimaa.com/arimaa/forum/cgi/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Arimaa >> Game Analysis >> ralphabetsoup vs. bot_Loc2007P2
        
(Message started by: ralphabetsoup on Feb 20^th, 2012, 8:21pm)

Title: ralphabetsoup vs. bot_Loc2007P2
Post by ralphabetsoup on Feb 20^th, 2012, 8:21pm

I'm a beginner and I know I'm making a ton of mistakes, but honestly not sure where.

Part of the problem is that at this point even my wins feel random. I've read the wikibook, and understand the basic strategies in the abstract, but not really in practice.

In this game, I know that I've botched the end game, but I have the feeling that it got away from me long before then.

What am I doing wrong?

http://arimaa.com/arimaa/gameroom/opengamewin.cgi?client=1&gameid=216566&role=v&side=w

Title: Re: ralphabetsoup vs. bot_Loc2007P2
Post by ginrunner on Feb 21^st, 2012, 12:10am

instead of critiquing specific moves I will try and give you some basic pointers. In order of what I noticed might be a weakness.

1) Don't attack with a single piece. You had a habit of trying to attack on a single wing with a single piece. When forming an attack try and use multiple pieces. For example the EH attack involves 2 pieces and is a basic building block of today's strategy.

2) Try not to lose control of your home traps. Something I personally keep in mind (when attacking or defending) is maintaining control of the squares next to a trap nearest to the walls (for example if we were talking about the c3 trap I would be referring to b3 and c2) is vital. On 29g the camel took control of g6 making the goal easier. 31g the horse took f7 solidifying the goal attack. There are other points in the game too.

3) Have a plan. Even if that plan is constantly changing have an idea of what you want to do. This is very hard to do (I personally suck at this one) I noticed you had a lot of moves of just moving pieces around with no immediate or even near term benefit.

There are some other things but those are the main things I would work on. You seem to have a grasp on not giving up easy captures which what I was expecting to see in the game so that is good. In more time of playing you should learn to see easy captures on the opponent. Also maybe look up "frames" in the wiki.

Title: Re: ralphabetsoup vs. bot_Loc2007P2
Post by tharkun on Feb 21^st, 2012, 5:13am

Since ginrunner already covered most important points regarding strategy, I will add just one tactic.

You framed his rabbit in the f6-trap. It was defended by a gold horse on e6. Did you consider capturing the rabbit by removing the defender? For example, on move 14 you could put your elephant on d6 and pull away the horse next move.