Trax is a two-player game utilizing square tiles with patterns on both faces. One face has two arcs, Black and White, each drawn as to join two sides of the tile which share a common corner. The other face has two straight lines, Black and White, drawn as to join opposite sides of the tile.
Each player takes turns placing tile upon the field. After the first placed tile, all subsequent tiles must be played so that at least one side is adjacent to another tile. Sides of adjacent tiles must align so that the colors of the connecting 'tracks' match. The initial tile played on each player's turn is called the 'primary'.
If an empty cell on the playing field has two adjacent tile whose sides present the same color of connection, the player must play an appropriate tile to this cell. This is called a 'forced move' and is mandatory. A forced move can result in consecutive forced moves.
If a move result in an empty cell which has three or more adjacent tiles whose sides present the same color of connection, the primary tile of that turn and any forced move tiles must be retracted, and the player must attempt an alternate move.
The winner is the first player to form either a loop or line of their color. A loop is a closed path of any shape. A line is a path which joins opposite and outermost edges of the played tiles over at least eight cells, across or down. A player may actually win by an opponent's move. If winning formations result for both Black and White are completed in the same turn, the player who preformed the moves is the winner.
Trax is an infinite game. It can be played with an infinite number of tiles upon an infinite surface. But for the purpose of this implementation, it has been restricted to a 21x21 field with only 128 tiles. This would be similar to playing the game on a card table with two sets.
The first tile of the game must be played to the marked cell in the middle of the field. In order to retract moves, the player uses as necessary the Back Up One Move button on the toolbar. Drop a tile upon the field by clicking on the desired space, the diagrams to the right of the field are for the purpose of reference.
Trax was invented by New Zealander David Smith in 1980. The game was first published in New Zealand and the USA in 1981.
For more information about Trax visit: www.traxgame.com
Copyright © 2002 David Smith [Trax@xtra.co.nz].
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