Golomb's Game

Objective

Golomb's Game is a two player strategy game played using one set of Pentominoes (which consists 12 unique shapes) and an 8x8 board. Players alternate placing pieces on the board from the same Pentominoes set, covering whole squares and without overlap. The aim is to block opponent from being able to make a move. The player who can not make a move loses. The game is named after Solomon W. Golomb who first proposed this game.

Gameplay

Game starts with empty board and played as following.

  • All pentominoes pieces are laid out.
  • Players decide who will go first.
  • The first player chooses one of the pieces and places it on the board. After that the turn is passed to the opponent who also chooses one of the pieces and places it on the board.
  • Players alternate turn to pick one piece and place it on the board while trying to block the opponent from being able to play a piece.
  • Pieces can be rotated/reflected while playing so asymmetrical pentominoes can be played in 8 different ways whereas symmetrical pentominoes can be played in up to 4 different ways.
  • The winner is the last player to place a piece.

Controls

  • Drag and drop a piece on the board covering empty cells.
  • Double-click a piece to rotate.