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Why OBX notation for Baghchal game?
OBX (Online Baghchal Exchange), a FEN-like (Forsyth-Edwards Notation) system, offers a powerful and efficient way to represent the game state of Baghchal. Online Baghchal is an online real-time version of Baghchal board game. Playing Baghchal has been my hobby since childhood so I developed Online Baghchal website and mobile apps.. I enjoy playing Baghchal game online and similar to Lichess.org I invision to make Online Baghchal a go to place for Baghchal players and travelers in Nepal to play and connect online. In Nepal Baghchal is in a way has connected tourists and travelers with local people since every trek or hike they go on they will find people playing Baghchal on village rest areas and Baghchal is one of the most popular souvenir from Nepal.
ONLINE BAGHCHAL EXCHANGE (OBX) NOTATION
While working on Online Baghchal, I thought it’d be cool to have third party bots into game play platform. If we search in Github even today there are 50+ good quality Baghchal apps out there built by individual and scholars. But each of them worked independently of others and there was no easy way we could reuse the code to evaluate our board positions. So out of necessity, similar to FEN in Chess, Online Baghchal Exchange (OBX) notation was conceptualized. The purpose of OBX is to provide all the necessary information to evaluate or to restart a game from a particular game state. OBX can also be used to record offline games to be studied and analyzed later.
The notation format used to represent the state of the game is as follows:
[Board State] [Turn t,g] @[Remaining Goat Count] c[Captured Goat Count] m[Last Move] #[t,g][Move Number]
| Figure – Example board state in OBX: TGGGT/GXTXG/GGXGG/GGTGG/GGGGG g @2 c0 mD2C2 # |
Board coordinates and notation in Baghchal is a simple algebraic notation. The columns from left to right are Labeled as A, B, C, D, E and the rows from up to down are Labeled as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for simplicity of use while hand coding board positions or while representing in computer data structures. The rooms are noted first with Column label and then with Row label. For example the room at the top-left corner is noted as A1 and the room at the bottom-right corner is noted as E5. Similarly the rooms at the top rows are noted as A1, B1, C1, D1 and E1.
Currently Online Baghchal website hosts OBX Viewer and Bot testing software.
Benefits of FEN-like Notation for Baghchal Game
A FEN-like (Forsyth-Edwards Notation) system, such as OBX (Online Baghchal Exchange), offers a powerful and efficient way to represent the game state of Baghchal. This notation condenses all relevant information into a single, human-readable string, enabling seamless communication, analysis, and archival of games. Below are the key benefits of adopting such a notation system for Baghchal:
- Compactness and Clarity:
FEN-like notation provides a concise yet comprehensive snapshot of the board. For a game like Baghchal, where board states can change frequently, this clarity helps players and developers understand the game state without ambiguity. - Compatibility with Digital Platforms:
By using a standardized format, the game state can easily be integrated into digital platforms for online play, mobile apps, or AI analysis. This enhances compatibility across different systems, making it a foundational tool for developers. - Facilitates Game Analysis:
Players and analysts can use the notation to study positions, evaluate strategies, and detect patterns. The notation enables easy sharing of game states among players and coaches for collaborative learning. - Game Archival and Replay:
OBX allows complete games to be stored as a series of states, enabling replaying or revisiting specific moments. This is invaluable for enthusiasts who wish to study historical games or improve their gameplay. - Algorithmic Flexibility:
For developers, the FEN-like format simplifies the implementation of algorithms for game validation, AI training, and move generation. - Cross-Cultural and Global Appeal:
A standardized notation promotes the game internationally by removing language barriers, making Baghchal more accessible and appealing to a global audience.
Adopting a FEN-like notation like OBX modernizes Baghchal, preserving its traditional essence while expanding its reach in the digital age.
To contribute to Baghchal game ecosystem, consider implementing OBX notation on your open source or propritary Baghchal bot projects. To read more about OBX check Github OBX repo.
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Why OBX notation for Baghchal game?
https://bhupalsapkota.com/obx/