Overview

Pentago is a two-player abstract strategy game played on a 6x6 board divided into four 3x3 twistable quadrants. Each turn, a player places a marble and then twists any one quadrant 90 degrees, creating a constantly shifting board. The first player to get five marbles in a row wins.

Components

• 1 game board base with 4 twistable 3x3 game blocks (quadrants)
• 18 marbles of each color (2 colors)

Setup

1. Start with an empty board.
2. Decide marble colors and who goes first (hide one marble of each color in your hands; opponent picks a hand to determine first player).

Turn Structure

Each turn consists of two parts:

1. Place a marble on any empty space on the board.
2. Twist any one game block 90 degrees (one notch) clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Exception: If a “neutral” game block exists (empty or with only one marble in the center), the twist portion is optional. A neutral block’s twist has no positional effect.

A 180-degree (double notch) twist is NOT allowed.

Actions

Action	Rules
Place	Put 1 marble on any empty space
Twist	Rotate any 1 quadrant exactly 90 degrees in either direction

You may place your marble on one game block and twist a completely different game block. There is no requirement that the twist affect the block where you placed.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Win condition: Get five of your marbles in an unbroken row – horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The row can span two or three game blocks.

If you create five in a row by placing your marble (before twisting), you win immediately – you do not need to twist.

Draw: If a player’s twist simultaneously creates five in a row for both players, the game is a draw.

If the board fills completely with no five in a row, the game is a draw.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• A winning row of five can run across multiple game blocks.
• You must always twist a non-neutral game block if one exists (the twist is mandatory once all blocks have 2+ marbles).
• If your placement creates five in a row, you win immediately without needing to twist.
• If your twist creates five in a row for your opponent but not for you, your opponent wins.
• If the twist creates five in a row for both players simultaneously, it is a draw.
• Six or more in a row counts as a win (five is the minimum).

Player Reference

Turn Step	Action
1	Place 1 marble on any empty space
2	Twist any quadrant 90 degrees (mandatory if non-neutral blocks exist)

Win: 5+ marbles in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) anywhere on the board.