Marquetry

Goal

On the workbench, a 9 × 9 grid is divided into nine 3 × 3 squares, separated by brass strips. Place wooden pieces on it to complete a row, a column or a 3 × 3 square: the complete line is removed and scores points. The game ends when none of the remaining pieces can be placed any more.

How it works

• Three pieces are offered at a time. Drag them onto the grid with the mouse or your finger: a ghost shows where they will land, and the lines that will be cleared light up.
• Another way to play: tap a piece to select it, then tap a square on the grid. On the keyboard: 1, 2 or 3 picks the piece, the arrow keys move the ghost, Enter places the piece.
• Pieces do not rotate: choose their place carefully.
• When all three pieces are placed, three new ones arrive. The sequence of pieces is the same for every player in a game (same seed), with no unfair stroke of luck.

Clears and points

• Each square placed is worth 1 point.
• A complete row or column is worth 100 points, a complete 3 × 3 square 150 points.
• Several lines cleared at once: the total is multiplied by their number (two lines count double, three count triple, and so on).
• Pure wood: a line made of a single species of wood (maple, walnut, cherry, yellow birch, ash or boxwood) is worth double.
• Streak: each consecutive clear raises the streak multiplier (×1, ×1.5, ×2 up to ×4). The streak survives two placements without a clear; the third one breaks it.
• Workbench cleared: if the board is emptied, 1,500 bonus points.

Levels

• Easy: empty workbench and short pieces.
• Medium: a few pieces already placed, the whole usual range.
• Hard: bigger pieces (3 × 3 block, plus sign, lines of 5) and more starting blocks.
• Expert: more blocks, stair-step pieces more frequent, no safety piece guaranteed.
• Diabolical: the workbench is already cluttered and only hard pieces turn up.

Marquetry

The Marquetry option replaces the starting blocks with a pattern of ebony inlays set in brass (knots, cross, diamond, checkerboard, rosette or frame). Complete the rows, columns and squares that run through the pattern to remove every inlay: each one scores 20 points and the completed pattern is worth a 1,000 point bonus.

Modes

• Solo: an endless game, with records per level, hint, undo and autopilot (these aids do not count towards records).
• Against the AI: the AI plays the same sequence of pieces as you, in parallel; its board and its score are visible. The best score wins. Five strengths, from Beginner to Master. Choose the length of the round.
• Two players: the same sequence of pieces for both; each plays a full game in turn, passing the device, then the scores are compared.
• Online: a simultaneous race on the same sequence of pieces; you see your opponent’s board and score live.

About the AI

The AI plans the three pieces of a wave in one go: it tries every order and every placement with a beam search, then judges each position (points won, isolated squares, jagged edges, room left for big pieces). The higher its strength, the wider the beam and the fewer deliberate mistakes it makes.

Records are only registered without hints, undos or autopilot.