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The Bermuda Triangle   Table of Contents   Kausie Coinflips

I hope everyone enjoyed the last two articles about open and closed. For this issue, we will be discussing the T formation. This formation, like the Q formation, was briefly discussed by Nimloth in the 2006 November issue and now we will be taking a more in-depth look at it.

The T formation is a bit harder to set up than the Q formation but it is just as common. Because of this, I won't be getting into how to create the T formation but if you take a look at the board, you can tell if it will happen or even play so that it does get formed. Note that it is still considered as the T formation even if the T is on the left and right side, and upside down (Kind of like a Tetris piece changing position). This is what it looks like:



Let's look at some examples to get a better idea of how to handle the situation as either the first or second turn player. Unlike the Q formation, it is not completely neccessary to try and have certain cards flipped over on your side.

Example One



Score: 5-5
First Turn Player: Blue
Second Turn Player: Red

First Turn Player
This is a good position to be in because the score is tied. All that matters now is the cards you and your opponent have and where your opponent will play on turn 6 (The turn after the T is formed). In most cases, you are guaranteed a tie. There are a few common places your opponent will play.

1) Let's say your opponent plays on 4 to take your two cards. Now, your best options are to either to take the card your opponent just played if you can take one or two cards regardless of where your opponent plays in his/her next move or you can play in spot 6 to flip over two cards, assuming you can at least take back at your center card.

2) If your opponent starts turn 6 by playing in 9 to flip your card on 8, your best option here is to take the card your opponent played. If you can take the card on 3, that makes things even better. This way, even if your opponent does take over your two cards by playing in spot 4, you can at least take the card in spot 8 back and hopefully take the card in spot 4.

Second Turn Player
The T formation is a bit tricky when you are second player. Your turn in 6 will make or break your chances of winning/tying. The way to play is one of two things:

1) Play cards your opponent cannot take (Watch out if Combo is on, you may lead yourself into a trap). If you can take your opponents cards without having the card you just played flip over, you will gain the advantage. For example, you may notice you have one of these cards that you could play on 4 to take both your opponent's cards. At this point, you've guaranteed yourself a tie. If your opponent cannot play a card on 6 to take both your cards and have it unable to be flipped, you have just won the game.

2) If you do not have cards that cannot be flipped over, then it boils down to whether or not your opponent can take the card in 6. If your opponent can take the card in 2 then it is impossible to win unless your opponent can't take any cards you flip over. If your opponent cannot take the card in 2, then the best move to make is in 4 if you can take both cards in spot 1 and 5.

Example Two



Score: 4 - 6
First Turn Player: Blue
Second Turn Player: Red

First Turn Player
This is actually a bad situation for the first turn player. If you cannot take your opponents cards on your turns, then you've tied/lost. But hopefully these tips will help you.

1) Your opponent may play 2 to stop you from taking two cards at once. At this point, you can either take the card your opponent just played but if not, take the card in spot 5 by playing in spot 7. You will now need to be able to take the card on spot 6 and hope your opponent cannot take your card in spot 7 or else you have just lost.

2) If your opponent plays on 9 to take your card in 6, you want to play in 8 to take the card in your opponent just played. Only being able to take the card in spot 5 may be pointless because your opponent will take it back if it's possible. If you can't take the card in 9, then you will want to take back the card in 6 by playing in 3 with a card that can't be flipped.

3) The third move would be a card in 8 to take your card in 7. If this happens, you want to take the card your opponent just played and take back any cards you can on your last turn. If you can't take the card back but are able to take the two cards by playing on spot 2, then that is the second best choice. Hope that your opponent cannot take the card you played in spot 2 to manage a tie.

Second Turn Player
This is one of the best situations for the second turn player with the T formation. Having second turn in a situation like this works pretty much the same as in the last example where you want to play cards that can't be flipped over. Ideally, the common moves for the second turn player noted for the first turn player strategies are good ways to play.

1) You may opt to protect your cards with an un-flippable card in spot 2. If you can, then you have at least tied. If this is the case, your opponent may play on 7 to take your card by playing on 8. If you can take it back, you have won but if not then you have a tie. If your opponent can take your card on spot 2 then your next move is two to take the card in spot 7. This move will guarantee a tie.

2) If you can take the card on 6 with an un-flippable card by playing in 9, then this is another good option. This way, if you can't take any of your opponent's cards, you can play on 3 to tie. If you can't play an un-flippable card, then make sure you can play an un-flippable card in 2 and take back the card in 5 if it's needed.

3) The next move to make would be to play in 8 to take your opponent's card in 7. As always, try to do it with an un-flippable card. This way, the score becomes 7-3 and as long as you can take at least one of your opponent's cards, you have at least tied the game. If your opponent can take your card on 7 then your next move would be to play in 2. You will not win unless your opponent can't take the card but you won't lose either.

Playing With Combo
Regardless of what the situation is, Combo makes things a bit harder (or easier) for both payers. All the above strategies can still be applied but remember to look carefully at the cards you play. Don't play cards that can be combo'd unless you can combo back.

This article is a little shorter than the others I've written but at least that's one less formation for me to ramble on about. I hope you have found some of this information useful and stay tuned for the next article which I promise will be a doozey. Until next time, happy Triple Triading.