Splice

Splice is an evolution of Spline that can be played with a Series: Shibumi set, as it uses a 4x4 holes board and balls in three colours (white, black and red). Start: The board starts empty. Play: Players take turns placing either: 1) a ball of their colour on any hole or any platform that contains at least one red ball, or 2) a red ball on any hole or any platform. End: A player wins by making a flat line spanning side to side, or corner to corner, on any level, composed entirely of friendly and neutral balls (at least one of each). If the placement of a red ball achieves this for both players, then the mover wins. Strategy: White should place at least one red ball on the board level, otherwise Black can force a win due to parity. White should defend this red ball so that Black can’t exploit it.