Draft:Zero Cut Game

Zero Cut Game aka Game Of Zeros is a fun game that you can play any time and anywhere as long as you have a piece of paper, a pencil, and an opponent. Zero Cut Game is a zero-sum game, which means that if both players are playing their best, then neither player will win. However, if you learn how to play Zero Cut Game and master some simple strategies, then you’ll be able to not only play but win the majority of the time.

Zero Cut game board at starting state.

Playing Zero Cut Game

First, you have to draw the board, which is made up of a 5 x 5 grid of squares. This means it has five rows of five squares. Some people play with a 10 x 10 grid, but that is for more advanced players, and we will focus on the 5 x 5 grid here. Zeros are arranged in these cell in some geometric patterns. Most common pattern used is Right-Triangle.

Zero Cut game board after two moves.

How points are calculated?

Let’s say first player make a move and cut off zero at a5. Since row five has only one zero so the row five is now completed and points for row (number of zeros in the row) that is one is give to first player.

After the first player goes, then the second player should cut off the next zero. Let’s say second play cut off zero at d1. In this case second player won’t get any points since there are four remaining zeros in row one and one remaining zero in column d. Now you can guess what will be the best move for second player!

Keep alternating moves until all zeros are cut off?

Player will continue game until all zeros are finished. Player who is able to score more points has won Zero Cut Game. However, if both players are playing with good concentration and optimal strategy, then there’s a good chance that no one will win because both players are managed to leverage their best opportunities.

What is the maximum points able to get on a single turn?

Let’s say all the zeros are cut down except the zero at a1. In this case player who cut zero at a1 will awarded 10 points. Player who cuts a1 is finishing both column A and row 1 at the same time so 5 + 5 = 10 points. If you observe carefully you can see similar occurrences through game.