TAKXO Rules
TAKXO is a two-player abstract strategy game built around one simple idea: the top piece controls the square. Squares can change hands until their stacks lock.
| Standard board | 4 × 4 |
| Winning line | 4 squares · whole row, column, or main diagonal |
| Stack height | 3 pieces |
| Pieces | Unlimited |
| Self-stacking | On |
| Immediate Retake | Off |
Standard TAKXO
Players alternate turns. Place one piece on any legal square whose stack has room.
The top piece controls an open square. You may play on an empty square, your own controlled square, or an opponent-controlled square.
Place on an opponent-controlled square to take control with your new top piece.
If your opponent has just taken a square from you, you may not take that same square straight back on your immediately following turn. You may play anywhere else that is legal. After that intervening turn, the square may be contested again.
When a stack reaches three pieces, it locks. The top piece permanently controls that square and no more pieces may be added there.
You win immediately when you control every square in a complete horizontal row, vertical column, or one of the two main diagonals.
Whole-line boards
Board size and winning line always match in player-facing play: 3×3 uses Line 3, 4×4 uses Line 4, and 5×5 uses Line 5. Standard TAKXO is 4×4 · Line 4.
Draws
If permanent locks make every possible winning line impossible for both players, the game is a draw. Repetition, stalemate, or the engine safety move limit may also end non-Standard configurations as a draw.
Supported variants
Quick. 3×3 · Line 3, with the same stacking, ownership, lock, and No Immediate Retake rules.
Long. 5×5 · Line 5, with the same core rules.
Immediate Retake On. Removes Standard's one-turn restriction and allows a direct take-back.
Shift. On a turn, move an exposed top piece you control to another legal stack instead of placing a new piece.
Hold the Line. A completed line must survive one breaking reply instead of winning immediately.
Reveal. Once per player, remove the top piece of an unlocked stack with at least two pieces; the piece underneath becomes active.
Self-Stacking Off. Pieces may only be placed on empty squares or over the opponent.
Choose Sides. After X's opening move, the other seat may keep O or take X. This is a competitive fairness option, not Standard.
Formats and time controls
Blitz. Standard rules with a 1:00 personal clock for each player. Only the active player's clock runs. Reaching zero loses the game.
Competitive Match. Standard TAKXO over 2, 4, or 6 games with the starting mark alternating between games and the match score carried forward.
Online turn clocks. Private Online games may also use 15, 30, or 60 seconds per turn. A turn-clock timeout passes the turn without a move; Blitz timeout loses the game.
Online configuration
The host may combine supported board, movement, Immediate Retake, Hold the Line, Reveal, Choose Sides, self-stacking, and time-control options. The guest sees the exact configuration before joining. Every normal board remains 3 High and uses the whole-line objective.
What Standard means
Standard TAKXO is the game to learn and master. Variants and formats change a named dimension; computer difficulty changes only the strength of the computer opponent.