Renju

Renju (Japanese连珠or联 珠) is a variant of the strategy game five in a row in which the advantage of attracting is compensated. It is played 15 intersections big board with Go stones on a 15 ×. The name of the game means " gems - chaining ".

Regulate

Profit

• Black ( the first player ) win by placing five stones in a row.
• White wins by five stones in a row or the fact that black makes a forbidden train.

Opening

For the opening, the following sequence is required:

After this opening phase of black and white turns playing each a stone.

Forbidden trains

For Black, it is forbidden to play so that

• Two rows of three at once arise that are not blocked by white stones,
• Creates two uninterrupted, non-blocked four rows at once or
• A long row (6 black stones or more ) forms.

History

A precursor of the game came in the 8th century from China via Korea to Japan. He was known in China Wutzu in Japan Gomoku Narabe (五目並べ) Kakugo or Kyogo. This game was in the 17th century to a popular pastime and is still living in Japan as a simple game for women and children continues.

The modern Renju developed from 1899, when the owner of the newspaper Yorozu Choho, Kuroiwa ruiko, which is more known under his pseudonym Takayama Goroku, began to promote the game especially. 1906 Tōkyō Renju Sha (东京 连珠 社, dt Tokyo Renju Society) was founded and introduced abilities along the lines of Go. The Japanese players tightened the rules - initially was banned for both players to form two open rows of three. Other rule changes were made in the years 1912, 1916 and 1918. Takagi Rakuzan replaced in 1936, the third Japanese national champion, the Go board used until then by the smaller Renju board. Today (2005) valid rules were laid down in 1966.

The modern Renju is (日本 连珠 社, German, Japanese Renju Society) promoted in Japan by Nihon Renju Sha, organizes tournaments and a few dozen professional masters busy. Important tournaments in Japan, the Nihon Zen Meijin -sen, the Shin'ei - Sen and the Suizei -Sen. Great influence also has the Japanese magazine Renju Renju Sekai (English Renju World ). Many Japanese newspapers publish Renju problems in the sports section.

In 1977, a Russian student learned Renju in Japan know and wrote an article about it in a Russian newspaper, whereupon in Russia formed a gambling scene. Swedish players ( established in 1958 ) from Svenska Luffarschackforbundet learned in the 1980s, the Russian - Renju players know and took over the official rules.

In 1988, in Sweden the Renju International Federation (RIF ) founded the then regularly keeps world championships.

Local exist Renju Clubs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus, the USA ( California ), South Korea and Japan.

The strongest Renju players come to the time from Estonia, Russia, Japan, China and Sweden.