One Dimensional Connect 4 - the Remix.

A couple of years ago, I turned a pencil-and-paper game into a more permanent wooden version.

Recently, I was stirred to play the game again when patatarium posted a version he had made, but I was disappointed when I remembered that I had given the original away (I tend to do that, or I'd disappear under a pile of Things).

So, it seemed the ideal time to remix the game.

I had already done the design work, first time around, so it was really just a matter of re-drawing it in a format to suit the laser cutter.

I have, of course, attached every possible format for folk to use.

It's not so important for this particular project, but it's worth bearing in mind for general practice;

When you are laser cutting, it is better to do all the surface marking - engraving and etching - before the cutting, because cut pieces can shift when they detach from the larger sheet of material.

The same sort of thing holds if you are cutting small pieces out of larger pieces - cut the small pieces first, just in case they shift or drop, spoiling your alignment or beam focus.

Assembly is easy - just glue the three banana-shaped pieces together, aligned at the bottom, with the narrow piece in the middle.

What is important, though, is not to clamp the pieces.

It is normally best practice to clamp glued joints to make them as strong as possible. This game doesn't need to be strong, but the counters, cut from the same sheet of material, need to fit easily into the slot.

If you blob on the PVA, and only press the pieces gently together, the final join is easily strong enough to survive normal use, and the slot fo the counters is just a little bit wider than the counters are thick.

I've cheated (a little) and lifted the rules straight from the original version of the game:

The rules of the game are simple, but winning isn't as quick as you might think.

• Arrange all ten counters in a row of alternating colours.
• Players take turns to move three counters at a time.
• The counters must be next to each other.
• At least one moved counter must be the player's own colour.
• The three pieces must be moved to the end of the row (although it doesn't matter which end)
• The three pieces must stay in the same order.
• The end pieces may not be part of a group of three moved counters.
• The gap must be closed by sliding the counters together.
• The winner is the first player to get a row of four (or more) of their own colour.

I've drawn up a diagram of a typical starting move, and posed one in the photos, along with an example of a typical winning situation.

Give it a go, and if you make a set, please, post a photo of it in the comments