Where did the swap rule come from? TWIXT PP

6 replies. Last post: 2005-06-02

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Where did the swap rule come from?
  • roy degler at 2005-06-01

    I have two versions of the orginal twixt game. Neither has the swap rule.

    When did this rule get added to the game?

    I understand the reason for the rule.

    roy

  • David J Bush ★ at 2005-06-02

    Alex Randolph invented Twixt in Europe around 1960. He included the swap rule, which he called the pie rule, as part and parcel of the game. Unfortunately, when 3M published the game in 1962, they neglected to include this rule. They also neglected to mention link removal, which is less important. They also failed to credit Mr. Randolph. Are your sets 3M sets? Avalon Hill later purchased the 3M line in the 1970s. I'm not sure if they mention swapping sides or not. On the BoardGameGeek page for Twixt there is a text file you can download, to print out and include in the box.

  • roy degler at 2005-06-02

    One has the remove the link rule the other does not. I think they are both the 3M version.

    I used to play alot back in the 1970's but just started up again now that I found twixt available on LG.

    Any good suggestions for improving strategy(web sites or books)?

  • David J Bush ★ at 2005-06-02

    The link provided also has a file full of articles about the game.

  • roy degler at 2005-06-02

    Thanks I am going to work my way through the 40 puzzles by Alex Randolph using jtwixt.

    I think that will be a good start

  • Alan Hensel at 2005-06-02

    If you want to get good at Twixt, Alex Randolph's 40 puzzles is a good place to start. I also recommend watching games from Little Golem, especially the ones in which a top player lost. Don't forget my little Ruby script for downloading LG Twixt games into JTwixt format – being able to flip thru a game quickly gives you a more kinetic and holistic sense of the game. Also, it can help a lot to ask a good player to post-mortem a game that you've played against him.

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