Order and Chaos

Order and Chaos is a variant of the game tic-tac-toe on a 6×6 gameboard. It was invented by Stephen Sniderman and introduced by him in Games magazine in 1981.^[1] The player Order strives to create a five-in-a-row of either Xs or Os. The opponent Chaos endeavors to prevent this.

Unlike typical board games, both players control both sets of pieces (Xs and Os). The game starts with the board empty. Order plays first, then turns alternate. On each turn, a player places either an X or an O on any open square. Once played, pieces cannot be moved, thus Order and Chaos can be played using pencil and paper.

Order aims to get five like pieces in a row either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Chaos aims to fill the board without completion of a line of five like pieces.

The original rules in Games magazine implied that six-in-a-row also wins. That version of the game was claimed weakly solved as a forced win for Order.^[2] The inventor has subsequently suggested a new rule to better balance winning chances for both sides: Six-in-a-row does not qualify as a win. The new rule offers Chaos new defensive tactics against Order's previously "unstoppable" four-in-a-rows.^[3] This version is weakly solved as a forced win for Chaos, who can win using a Pairing strategy.^[4]

• Entropy (1977 board game)

• Order and Chaos at BoardGameGeek
• Order and Chaos – Hannah Nicklin vs. Emma Blackery on YouTube