Restrictive Rules

snowcap007

Hi everyone,

I keep hearing that more restrictive rules are better to split the board with. How do you tell if a rule is more or less restrictive?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Tokhajaan

If more more rules affect the slots, then it becomes restricted.

ryanblechta-1

The more specific the application of a rule the more restrictive the rule. A rule that allows a variable (X) to be placed only in the spot 2 or else 7 is very restrictive; similarly, a rule that makes it impossible for 5 of the 7 variables to be placed in a position is restrictive. You can divide the game board into two possible alternatives in both of these situations (assuming a single variable per position). Less restrictive rules would allow more possible game boards to exist and therefore would be less helpful in splitting the board.

Matt Sorr

Any rule that greatly limits where variables can or can’t go is highly restrictive. For instance, if you’re doing a five slot sequencing game and you have a three-variable block, it can only be placed in one of three positions (1-2-3, or 2-3-4, or 3-4-5). So you could split the board three times and see what inferences can be made with each placement.