Talk:Abalone (board game)

message: I am skeptical of the recent edits regarding the potential for defensive play.  Given that this may be a controverial topic, I would like to open a discussion here rather than expressing my opinion by directly editing the article.
My main objection is that it seems both POV and beside the point to say that good players are more aggressive and that defensive play is a sign of a weaker player.  It is my understanding that among Abalone-lovers it is a social convention not to play defensively, because defensive play makes the game boring.  In particular I understand that playing defensively is not shunned because it is unsound strategy that can be beaten by a competent offense.
Perhaps it is true that people who flout this social convetion tend to be newer to the game and therefore weaker players.  Perhaps no one who is interested in playing Abalone seriously would be happy with an infinitely drawn out game with no chance of winning.  But these facts even if true reflect on the psychology of the players of Abalone, not on the game itself.
There is a critical point of information that needs to be clarified, apart from psychology and apart from social convention: In the diagrammed position, can Black defend indefinitely against all White attacks?  If Black does not make any mistakes, is the fortress of marbles secure against even a perfect attack by White?  I believe the answer is yes, and if it is yes then this fact about the game dynamics per se needs a prominent mention.
I propose splitting the current paragraph about defensive play into two paragraphs.  Let one paragraph make it clear that a defensively-minded player who makes no mistakes not only can't be beaten, but also can't even be forced out of the defensive wedge, and therefore not losing at Abalone takes only moderate skill and no imagination.  Let a separate paragraph make it clear that serious players find ways to attack and counterattack and to enjoy Abalone despite the theoretical possibility of draws.  Does this sound fair enough?  --Fritzlein 22:27, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Defensive Play 

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thread_title:  Fair use rationale for Image:Abalone board.jpg 

message: The instruction booklet for the game has a list of vocabulary. Has anyone considered posting it in the article?  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.181.160.60 (talk) 19:37, 13 November 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Terminology 

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thread_title:  External links modified