Margo is an abstract board game similar to Go, except that it's played with marbles which may stack upwards. A special capture rule means that captured pieces that support enemy pieces are not removed.

• Margo is played by two players, White and Black, on a square grid which is initially empty (7x7 is the standard size).
• Each player has an unlimited number of balls of their color.
• Players take turns placing a ball of their colour either:
  1. At an empty board point, or
  2. Stacked on top of four existing balls (of any colour).
• Players may not pass.
• The game ends when the current player has no legal move. The player with the most balls in play wins.
• Surround capture: After placing a ball, all enemy groups without freedom are captured and removed from the board, except for those which support enemy balls, which remain active in the game as zombies (only board-level freedoms are counted).
• Over/under rule: A connection crossing over an enemy connection cuts it.
• No-suicide: It is not permitted to place a ball without freedom, unless that move captures neighbours to create its own freedom.
• Ko rule: It is not permitted to repeat the board position of any previous turn.
• Swap rule: After the opening move, the second player may elect to swap colours in lieu of making a move.

The name "Margo" = Marbles + Go.

Online Play

• Gamerz (turn-based, play by email or play by web)

Notes

Margo is the big brother of the Shibumi set.