Ralf Gering
Germany
Germany
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Focus was invented by Sid Sackson in 1963 (not 1964 as wrongly stated by BoardGameGeek). The rules of this great game can be found here:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/789
Focus was described in Sid Sackson's book "A Gamut of Games" (1963) and in Martin Gardner's Math column published by Scientific American Magazine in the October 1963 issue.
The original rules are flawed as the second player can assure a draw by simply imitating the moves of the first player. Although Sackson wrote a rather childish response ("my answer to someone who plays in this manner, is not to play with him"), this is a very serious problem. Sackson made a major mistake when he didn't consider the move-stealing strategy. This is still a common mistake which is repeated by many game inventors every year. Obviously not even Ravensburger has competent game testers, so they released "Space Walk" just a few years ago, which has the same flaw.
Although Sackson would prefer not play with a thief, he provided a "less drastic cure" in later editions of "A Gamut of Games":
1. If neither player can immobilize the other, the one who played second is considered the loser. This is not unfair, since in Focus a slight edge goes with playing second.
2. Before the actual play of the game begins, each player in turn switches the position of one of his pieces with one of his opponent's pieces. The second player is not permitted to make a switch which will restore the symmetry. After these switches, the game continues in the same manner. This variation, by the way, brings about some fascinating new opening positions.
I would like to suggest another solution:
1.
In his first move, Green (the first player) *may* switch the position of a green stone with the position of a red stone. If Green switches, Red *must* switch the position of one of his stones with the position of a green stone, so that an asymmetrical board position results.
2.
If Green doesn't switch, he wins the game even if it ends in a draw.
This would combine both suggestions Sackson made in his book.
Ralph
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The original article was posted in the forum "True-Stacking-Games":
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/true-stacking-games/
(Message 39)
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