                                      Ishido/
                                    Strategy/
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The basic strategy for playing and winning Ishido revolves around emptying the pouch (playing all of the stones to the board) and accumulating 4-Way matches./
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In the Ancient mode the player who empties the pouch wins, regardless of the number of 4-Ways of the other player.  4-Ways become important when both (or neither) players empty the pouch, in which case the player with the most 4-Ways wins./
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In the Modern mode emptying the pouch does not necessarily guarantee a win.  
Since bonuses are paid for each 4-Way received, a player who scores at least four 4-Ways has a chance to score higher than a player who empties the pouch while getting few 4-Way matches./
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The obvious strategy to emerge is two-fold:/
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   *  Play for 4-Ways as early and as/
       often as possible/
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   *  Utilize all four corners and the/
       center of the board in making 4-Ways/
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   *  Remember that there is a major bonus/
       for emptying the pouch/
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Making the Basic 4-Way/
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From any chosen stone, the 4-Way is started by playing a stone matching the color on one of the sides and a stone matching the symbol above or below the original stone./
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Beginning Moves/
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For example, say that the stone in the bottom right corner of the screen is a white stone with a circle, and that a white stone with a square is displayed on the touchstone./
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By placing the white stone with a square to the left of the white stone with the circle the color attribute is determined for this potential 4-Way./
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Now, a couple of moves later, a black stone with a circle is displayed.  The player should place this stone above the the white stone with the circle, thereby determining the other attribute (circle)./
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At this point the player is beginning to establish a 4-Way where the final stone will be a white stone with a circle.  At least four additional moves must be made before the 4-Way set-up is ready for the final stone to be set in place./
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NOTE:  The player could choose at this time to make a 4-Way where a black stone with a square is the final stone.  However, it is better as a beginner to make an early decision as to what final stone you are working toward./
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Positioning Moves/
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The next time a stone with a circle is drawn it should be placed above the black stone with a circle, and then the next circle should be placed to the left of that stone./
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This creates two sides of the forming 4-Way above the original corner stone./
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Likewise, the next time a white stone of any symbol is drawn is should be placed to the left of the white stone with the square, and finally, the next white stone would be placed above the previously played white stone./
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Waiting for the Center Stone to be Drawn/
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With the placing of this final stone a square has been created at the right bottom of the screen with three white stones to the left of the original stone, three stones with circles above it, and a blank space in the middle (diagonal to the original stone) empty./
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The only stone that will fit in the center to complete the 4-Way is a white stone with a circle, the stone that matches the original corner stone (remember that there are two of each stone)./
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NOTE:  If the remaining white stone with a circle is displayed on the touchstone prior to the final set-up of the 4-Way it would not be
possible to complete the 4-Way./
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This is where chance (and patience) is involved in achieving 4-Way matches./
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NOTE:  As the player improves in skill, strategies for creating 4-Ways that allow for a different stone (than the one originally planned) to be placed in the center will be developed./
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This is where skill takes a hand in the player's ability to score highly./
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Center Master Play/
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The two center stones offer the best opportunity for creating 4-Ways since it is possible to create four 4-Ways around these two stones./
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Stones matching the attributes of the center stones are played in such a way as to create four 4-Ways surrounding the center stones  The steps for creating the Center Master Play are shown in the manual provided./
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Master Game/
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A Master Game is accomplished when eight 4-Ways are made around each of the six opening stones including a Center Master Play in the middle, and the pouch is emptied.  See the Ishido manual for all of the plays in setting up and winning the Master Game./
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Remember, it takes patience and skill to make 4-Way matches and high scores with Ishido, but, whether or not you ever attain the level of Master Player (having played three nine 4-Way match games) you will have hours of fun and challenge as your skill increases to your level of commitment.