Talk:Arimaa/Rabbit Advancement

Blockade example
Not long ago, it was discussed in Arimaa chat that the current "Blockade Friendly Elephant" section has a rather odd example, since the blockaded player was well behind in material before the blockade was in place (and worse, the blockaded player ended up winning the game!) I just saw this game, which could serve as a better example. The blockaded elephant eventually committed suicide just to try to free other pieces. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 06:04, 19 April 2018 (UTC)

I went ahead and changed it, using the position after 48s. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 21:30, 19 April 2018 (UTC)

Many points not specific to rabbits
At this point, five of the seven listed advantages of advanced rabbits have nothing particular to do with rabbits, and could apply to any piece. They are more likely to apply to rabbits, because rabbits are weak and it's more efficient to use them for jobs for which strength isn't important. Does this indicate a problem with the format of the page? For instance, perhaps the trap control examples could move to the trap control page. Risteall (discuss • contribs) 11:39, 21 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Yes, "Cement deadlock" and "Endgame trap control" probably should be moved to Trap Control. Not sure about "Early trap control".  That's a more expert-level position, and also serves as an example of how early mass rabbit advances could work well, so perhaps it should stay in Rabbit Advancement.  Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 01:35, 26 May 2018 (UTC)
 * My interpretation of "Cement Deadlock" is that it's primarily about the latent goal threat, so I would leave that one. It's having trap control and space advantage here that bothers me. Risteall (discuss • contribs) 11:27, 26 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Maybe there could be a chapter about openings, which the Space advantage and Early trap control examples could be moved to. I was trying to show how mass advancing rabbits even in the opening could be a good thing. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 09:50, 27 May 2018 (UTC)

Perhaps we could separate examples involving endgames, middlegames, and openings. I saw where you linked to this subpage as something that could be incorporated elsewhere, probably here. There is a similar scenario already here, but in an endgame position, whereas that page describes a middlegame or possibly opening position. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 08:04, 30 May 2018 (UTC)
 * I don't much like the idea of splitting examples according to the phase of the game they occur in. For instance, space advantage isn't specific to the opening, so shouldn't be primarily described on an opening page. It would be good to have pages on openings and endgames/goal attacks, but I don't know what would go on them. Risteall (discuss • contribs) 09:38, 30 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Maybe there should be a Space Advantage subpage then. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 15:24, 30 May 2018 (UTC)
 * A space advantage page would make sense, but be tricky to write. Maybe trap control is the best place for now? Risteall (discuss • contribs) 12:29, 2 June 2018 (UTC)
 * The "Space Advantage" example is very much about the advanced rabbits on the flanks, so it probably fits better here than it would in Trap Control. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 17:43, 2 June 2018 (UTC)

Do you still want to move the two trap control examples to Trap Control? I was about ready to do that, and had recently tried to reduce the emphasis on rabbits in anticipation of that move, but now you seem to have restored some of that emphasis. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 03:27, 3 June 2018 (UTC)


 * I didn't notice I had partially undone your edit. I think they should probably move, but some rewriting of the trap control page might be necessary to make them fit in. I still think the space advantage example belongs more on the trap control page than here; in that example the space advantage is closely connected to the control of c3, and in general pieces other than rabbits can take a space advantage. Risteall (discuss • contribs) 21:58, 5 June 2018 (UTC)


 * It could also be an example of development, which space advantage would seem to be closely tied to. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 07:21, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

I went ahead and moved what had been the "Space Advantage" example to Distribution of Forces#Development, with a modified explanation. Regarding the remaining subsections in the current version:

"Unfreeze friends" is not specific to rabbits. One possibility is to create a "Mobility" chapter, which could specifically address the mobility of camels and horses on the flanks. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 00:54, 20 August 2018 (UTC)

Still not sure what to do with this example. The position occurred with Gold to move; Gold was well ahead in material and somewhat better aligned, though his goal line was much thinner than Silver's. The goal threats appear to be a principal feature of the position. Perhaps the Trap Control chapter should have a "Trap control and goal threats" section, which would include both this example and the "Cement deadlock" one. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 03:26, 27 October 2018 (UTC)
 * This approach to examples is the wrong way round. The example was intended to show endgame trap control by rabbits. Discussion of the principal feature of the position, whatever it is, could be a distraction.
 * If this page no longer aims to show all advantages of advanced rabbits, it should perhaps focus on the tension between the advantages and disadvantages of advancement, and how it changes through the game. But this is not specific to rabbits.
 * If there is ever a page on goal attack, it will include something about trap control. Risteall (discuss • contribs) 07:14, 27 October 2018 (UTC)


 * The Unfreeze friends example does illustrate both an advantage and disadvantage of rabbit advancement, so perhaps it should stay here even though the advantage is not specific to rabbits. Of the other three remaining positive examples, at least two could be moved to a Goal Attack chapter. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 04:17, 29 October 2018 (UTC)

I've refocused the Trap Control example on trap control. It is somewhat specific to rabbits in that the goal threat increases the urgency. I guess this page is probably fine as it is, even if a Goal Attack chapter is added. Belteshazzar (discuss • contribs) 09:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)