Please refer to "Network_Rules.pdf" for more detailed rules.

EQUIPMENT:
Network is played on an 8x8 checkerboard. The players are named "Dark" and "Light". Each player has 10 checkers of their color. The two players have goal zoned which are marked with dots of their respective color.

OBJECT:
The object of the game is for each player to complete a "network" that joins their two goal zones.
The network must originate at one goal zone and terminate at the other and must contain at least 6 pieces which are "connected" to each other along straight lines which may be orthogonal or diagonal. Two friendly pieces connected if they are either directly adjacent or separated only by empty spaces along a row, column, or diagonal.

NETWORKS:

• An enemy piece placed in the straight line between two friendly pieces breaks the connection.
• Although more than one piece may be placed in a goal zone, only a single piece in each goal zone can be included as part of the winning network.
• A network may not pass through the same piece twice, even if it is only counted once.
• A network may not pass through a player's own color without turning.

GAME PLAY:
Each player alternately places a single piece on a vacant square. A player may not have more than two pieces in an adjoining group, whether connected orthogonally or diagonally.

If all the pieces are placed before a winning network is formed, then each player in turn moves any one of their pieces to any vacant square (subject to previous restrictions), until a winning network is formed. The game ends in a draw if a position occurs three times with the same player to move.

A player may not make a move which results in both players completing a network. This could occur when moving a piece which is blocking an opponent's winning network.

At the conclusion of the game, the computer automatically places markers to display the winning path.

VARIANT:
The "equalized" variant attempts to compensate for the first player's advantage by changing the turn order to Dark-Light-Light, then repeating Dark-Light.

Note: A free stand-alone version of Network may be downloaded from: http://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/63178/network-axiom-pc-game