Olix (1994)

Olix is a 2-player abstract strategy game.

Each player places one piece on the board each turn. Once placed, pieces are never moved nor captured. The board is a simple 11 by 11 square grid.

The players are attempting to form the largest formation in each of the four different types:

• O = A rectangle occupying all exterior spaces of the rectangle (meaning there can be a hole or even filled with a friendly or opposing piece).
• L = An L shaped formation (horizontal and vertical - not diagonal) with each leg having at least 3 spaces.
• I = Any horizontal or vertical line of spaces of at least four spaces long.
• X = Any diagonal line of at least four spaces long.

Adjacent to the board is a scoreboard showing the lowest possible values for each formation:

• O = 4, 6, 8, 9
• L = 5, 6, 7, 8
• I = 4, 5, 6, 7
• X = 4, 5, 6, 7

The player with the largest O, L, I, or X, marks its value on the scoreboard. If both players are tied for the largest formation of a type, both mark their scores on the scoreboard.

The game ends when either player has an automatic win or when they concede that no further higher scoring formations can be made. The board should be about 66% full at this point and there simply won't be room for any higher scoring formations to be placed. The winner is the first player to form a formation larger than the scoreboard can handle (an automatic win), or at the end of game, the player who won more scoring columns than their opponent, wins. Ties are broken by the player with the furthest advanced scoring marker.

Originally published in spielbox magazine.