The Game of Star

The Game.   Star was invented by Craige Schensted. The game is played between two people across a hexagonal board, one player taking the black discs, the other white. They take turns to place on the board a disc in their colour, black placing first. Both players attempt to create connected groups of discs. Points are awarded for each group ( see the section on scoring ) and the game is eventually decided by the total points that each player has for his groups.

The player with the most points is declared the winner. If the scores are level then the victory is awarded to white, the second player. The logic behind awarding white the game is because black in playing first has an advantage and that white in having achieved a level score has successfully overcome the disparity.
 

Scoring.   Careful!  The scoring is a bit complicated so please read slowly.

A score is awarded for each connected group of discs. For a group to score it must connect to one of the hexagons on the edge of the board. A group is worth two points less than the number of hexagons that it touches in the bounding ring of the board. In the following diagram the X’s mark the hexagons in the bounding ring. 

In the following examples the white group is worth 3 points ( connected to 5 bounding hexagons, minus 2 equals 3 ), the black group is worth 7 ( 9 minus 2 ). 

Note that an isolated disc in the corner is worth one point on its own.  Also a group that is connected to just one hexagon on the flat edge of the board is worth no points because it touches only two of the ring hexagons and subtracting two points then gives nothing. 

Diagram left: how many points for the groups?   Diagram right: what is the final score? 

Another feature of the game is that the total number of points to be allocated will always be the same for a given board. This quantity will always be two less than the number of hexagons in the bounding ring. For example, in the diagrams above there are 24 ring hexagons and so 22 points will be contested.  Black will win if he gets 12 points whereas white will win if he gets 11 points ( remember that white is awarded the victory if the scores are level ).
 

The Game Board.   The game can be played on a range of board sizes and shapes but the following board gives both players an equal game. It is a non-symmetrical board with 7 hexagons along the major sides, 5 along the minor sides and 90 hexagons in total ( ‘7-5-90’ ). On this board the number of points to be contested is even, 34. Black needs 18 points for a win, white 17. Black has the advantage of first play but has the disadvantage of having to gain an extra point. These should counterbalance each other and lead to a fair game. 

( The 7-5-90 board.    I have used diagrams of smaller boards on this page simply to illustrate features of the game. )
 

Larger boards can be used, 8-6-126 and higher, all with the major sides having two hexagons more than the minor sides. A larger board has more drama, will be more of a challenge and will allow you to demonstrate your ability at mastering the dynamic complexities that can occur in the game. 

The game when it was first presented had a 75 hexagon board in which the major sides had 6 hexagons in length and the minor sides 5 hexagons in length ( ‘6-5-75’ ). However with this board the game is biased in black’s favour since the scores can never be level ( 31 points are contested, the winner being the first person to get 16 points ) yet black still retains the advantage of first play. 
 

Strategy.   What is the best strategy for play? Here are a few suggestions and observations.

• Corners.   Occupy the corner hexagons in the first moves. This seems to be standard play currently. Remember that a disc in the corner is worth one point on its own.
 
• Mobility.   Maintain the mobility of your position. Do not play exclusively at the edge of the board nor too many wild moves in the centre. Best to play in the middle ground. Always make sure that you have a greater choice of moves than your opponent. Three pieces connected along the edge of the board have points but no influence in the centre whereas three pieces connected to the edge by one node and 0-connected towards the centre of the board have less points but greater mobility.
 
• Territory.   Aim to control territory. The player who controls more territory has greater mobility and is usually able to extend his connected groups. The following diagrams shows two states within the same game. At the start of the game white allowed black to occupy the edge hexagons and gain an advantage in points. However, white was then able to control the territory in the centre and eventually won. ( Here is a problem for you: where should white play in the right hand diagram? )

 
• Scoring.   Remember that the game is decided on points and that two points are deducted from each connected group. Make sure you always know exactly how many points you and your opponent each still need to get. Make sure you never allow your opponent to get his points.
 
• Initiative.   Always take the initiative and dislodge your opponent with unexpected moves on the board. Play with courage and purpose and make it difficult for the other player to predict where the next moves will happen.
  
• Enjoy Yourself.   Relax and enjoy yourself. Do not take the game too seriously.

Notation.   The notation to be used in annotating games is represented by the following diagram.
 

                       1 2 3 4 5
                      / / / / / 6
                               / 7
             A __   . . . . .   / 8
            B __   . . . . . .   / 9
           C __   . . . . . . .   / 10
          D __   . . . . . . . .   / 11
         E __   . . . . . . . . .   /
        F __   . . . . . . . . . .
       G __   . . . . . . . . . . .   __ G
      H __     . . . . . . . . . .     __ H
       I __     . . . . . . . . .     __ I
        J __     . . . . . . . .     __ J
         K __     . . . . . . .     __ K

Play by eMail.   Star can be played by eMail on Richard Rognlie PBeM server [ http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/ ].

Links.   The inventor of the game of Star has a few web pages on Star and on the related games of *Star and Poly-Y. Go to [ http://ea.ea.home.mindspring.com/history.html ]. Mark Thompson has a web page on Star at [ http://home.flash.net/~markthom/html/star.html ].