A turn can wait
There is no match clock. Step away between turns whenever your day needs the room.
The golden strategy room
Make your
next move
count.
Gold against ruby. A quiet contest inside a treasury of brilliant stones, deep shadows and royal detail. Take your seat at the Obsidian Court.
Free browser strategy · Australian English · No purchases or prizes
BEYOND THE BOARD
A treasury of
small details.
Black marble, gilded edges and flashes of ruby. Look beyond the brightest centrepiece.
PLAY HERE · FREE BROWSER ACTIVITY
The Obsidian Court
One board. Two colours. Make a line of rubies your own, then think about the reply.
You are GoldComputer is Ruby
Claim the line.
Consider the corner.
- Choose a marked empty square.
- Enclose rubies between your new disc and an existing gold disc.
- Let Ruby reply, then choose your next move.
Rows, columns and diagonals all count. If a side cannot move, it passes. The match ends when neither side has a move.
A simple local opponent, not an unbeatable solver. Your board is not saved after a reload.
THE COURT NOTEBOOK
The move after
the obvious move.
Do not count only what turns gold now. Imagine the square Ruby might choose next.
GRRG
G encloses a complete R line. Both rubies turn gold.
Open the strategy guideI
Read the whole line
One placement may enclose several ruby lines. Check every direction before deciding.
II
Notice what you offer
A generous flip can give the opponent a useful edge. The reply matters as much as your turn.
III
Make space for a corner
Corners cannot be enclosed from beyond the board. A patient route towards one can outlast a large central group.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF RICHNESS
The best thing in this room cannot be kept in a vault.
A new way of seeing the board is enough. No balance, no bonus offer, no reason to hurry towards the next match.
Help is part of play
Ask for a suggestion or undo a turn. Neither action spends anything or affects a ranking.
A quieter display
Reduce decorative motion from the footer settings. The board and its labels remain clear.
Before you begin
A few things
worth knowing.
Is there any cost to take a turn?
No. Every move, suggestion and restart is free. There are no purchases, stakes or prizes.
Why did some rubies turn gold?
Your placement enclosed a continuous ruby line between two gold discs. All qualifying lines turn, including diagonals.
Can the opponent play twice?
Yes. When Gold has no legal move, it passes and Ruby can continue. The match ends only when neither side can move.
Is the match saved when I leave?
No. The position lives in the open page. Cookie preferences do not act as a saved game.
A GOOD PLACE TO CONTINUE
A question at the court?
Describe a move, share an observation or ask about the room. The contact page prepares a draft in your own words.