STRING GO 
by L. Lynn Smith


Equipment:  A standard set of Go Stones, 180 Black and 181 White.

The playing field is an open area of between 20 and 30 Stones across. 
It is not necessary that the area be of any particular shape, round 
or square.  An appropriate cut of simple felt will suffice for the
playing field.

Each player, beginning with White, places a Stone on the field under 
the following restrictions:

The Stone must be directly adjacent to another Stone
                  -OR-
the Stone must be one and one-half Stone distance, or more, from any 
other Stone.

Each Stone is consider to have exactly two liberties.  These liberties 
can take place anywhere along their circumferences.  Thus no Stone 
will ever have more than two Stones adjacent.  No Stones on the field 
may be moved to place another, there must be sufficient space to make 
a placement.

A Stone or series of Stones which have had all their liberties removed 
by opposing Stones are returned to their owner for subsequent play.  

Players may merge the end of strings, but not cross them.  A player is 
allowed to form a continuous loop of their own Stones.  This is a 
completed string and is no long subject to play.

The player who is able to place their last Stone, without the opponent 
immediately preforming any captures, wins.  If the position occurs 
where no Stones may be legally placed, the player with the most Stones 
on the field will win.

All other rules of Go apply.  Ko, passing, suicide, right-of-way, etc.

[It may be necessary to create a simple measuring device from a common
kitchen matchstick.  Cut to the length of one and one-half Stones. This
can be used to determine the minimum distance of a solitary placement.
The thickness of the stick could be used to determine the proximity
of connected Stones.]