WYPS

Short story

The first version of the game was invented in 2002. The game was played with different rules on the Little Golem server. More than 20 variants and more than 800 players were played until the final rules were released.

Rules

WYPS is an abstract word game for two players.

Components

The game is played on triangular board with hexagonal squares. The rules are the same for all sizes of the board.

White’s first move is HIP

There are stones with letters. The stones have two different sides, each side representing one player. On each stone there is exactly one letter. The number of stones corresponds to the number of squares on the board (36 for size 8). At the beginning of the game, all the stones are in a bag.

Swap move

Each player draws five stones (five for size 8) from the bag. The black player can swap the stones between the players. All letters must always be swapped.

Gameplay

The players form words from their letters and from the letters on the board. If a player uses the opponent’s letters on the board, he turns one letter from these tiles to his own side. Instead of forming a word, it is possible to place only one letter from the rack on the board. At least one letter from the tray must be used in the turn. After the turn, up to seven letters are drawn from the tray (depending on the size of the board) if the bag is not empty. The first move is made by the white player. If the player forms the word in a straight line, she turns all used opponent’s letters to her own side.

Play continues with the next player.

Black player play move CHINA and turns over a stone.

White play move ARCH in a straight line and turns over all used oponent’s stones.

Goal of a game

The object of the game is to form a group of stones connected to all three sides of the board.

White plays DOES and connects all three sides of the board. This move is called atari (attack). Black’s move must break this connection.

Black’s move SEARCH interrupts White’s atari. And this black move is also an atari.

White plays the move CHILD. White used two letters from rack and two opponent’s stones. She can flip C or H to the white side. She decides to flip the letter H.

End of game

Play continues as long as a player’s group is not connected to all three sides of the board, and the opponent on his turn is unable to break it off. Note that the corners are considered to belong to the two adjacent sides.

White’s move FLED. After this move, black is not able to find the next move. Black gives up the game and White is the winner.

Variants on Little Golem

WYPS is played on Little Golem in multiple languages on sizes: 5,8,11 and 14.

There is also a numeric version where the letters are replaced by numbers. You must play even numbers or sequences of numbers.

Board sizes and letter distribution

WYPS can be played on any board sizes and in any language.

English

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	ACDEEILMNO PRSTU
6	4	21	AABCDEEGHI LMNOPRSSTU Y
7	4	28	AABCDEEEFG HIIKLMNOOP RRSSTUWY
8	5	36	AAABCDDEEE EFGHIIIKLL MNNOOPRRSS STTUWY
9	6	45	AAAABCCDDE EEEEFGHIII KLLMNNNOOO PRRRSSSSTT UUVWY
10	6	55	AAAAABCCDD EEEEEEFGGH IIIIKLLLMM NNNOOOPPRR RRSSSSSTTT UUVWY
11	7	66	AAAAABBCCD DDEEEEEEEF GGHHIIIIIK LLLMMNNNNO OOOPPRRRRS SSSSSTTTTU UUVWYZ
12	8	78	AAAAAAABBC CCDDDEEEEE EEEEFGGHHI IIIIIKKLLL LMMNNNNOOO OOPPRRRRRS SSSSSSTTTT UUUVWYYZ
13	9	91	AAAAAAABBC CCDDDDEEEE EEEEEEFFGG GHHIIIIIIK KLLLLLMMMN NNNNOOOOOO PPPRRRRRRS SSSSSSSTTT TTUUUUVWYY Z
14	9	105	AAAAAAAABB BCCCCDDDDE EEEEEEEEEE EFFGGGHHHI IIIIIIIKKL LLLLLMMMNN NNNNOOOOOO PPPRRRRRRR SSSSSSSSSS TTTTTTUUUU VWYYZ

German

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	AEEGHIKLMN ORSTU
6	4	21	ABDEEEFGHI KLMNOPRSTT U
7	4	28	AABCDEEEEF GHIKLMNNOP RRSSTTUZ
8	5	36	AABCDEEEEE FGHIIKLLMN NNOPRRRSSS TTTUZÄ
9	6	45	AAABCDEEEE EEEFGGHHII KLLMNNNOOP RRRSSSTTTT UUWZÄ
10	6	55	AAABBCDEEE EEEEFGGHHI IIKKLLLMMN NNNOOPRRRR SSSSTTTTUU WZÄÖÜ
11	7	66	AAAABBCDDE EEEEEEEEFF GGHHIIIKKL LLMMNNNNNO OPPRRRRRSS SSSTTTTTUU VWZÄÖÜ
12	8	78	AAAAABBCCD DEEEEEEEEE EEFFGGGHHH IIIIKKLLLL MMNNNNNOOO PPRRRRRSSS SSSTTTTTTU UUVWZÄÖÜ
13	9	91	AAAAAABBBC CDDEEEEEEE EEEEEEEFFG GGHHHIIIIK KKLLLLLMMM NNNNNNOOOP PRRRRRRSSS SSSSTTTTTT TUUUUVWZÄÖ Ü
14	9	105	AAAAAAABBB CCDDDEEEEE EEEEEEEEEE EFFGGGGHHH HIIIIIKKKL LLLLMMMNNN NNNNNOOOPP RRRRRRRSSS SSSSSTTTTT TTTTUUUUVW ZZÄÖÜ

Spain

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	AACDEEILMN ORSTU
6	4	21	AAABCDEEGI LMNOOPRRST U
7	4	28	AAAAABCDEE EGIILMNOOO PRRSSTUV
8	5	36	AAAAAABCCD EEEEGIILLM NNOOOPRRRS SSTTUV
9	6	45	AAAAAAABCC DDEEEEEFGH IIIJLLMNNO OOOPRRRSSS TTUUV
10	6	55	AAAAAAAAAB CCDDEEEEEE FGHIIIIJLL LMMNNNOOOO PRRRRSSSST TUUVZ
11	7	66	AAAAAAAAAA ABBCCCDDDE EEEEEEFGHI IIIJLLLMMN NNOOOOOPPR RRRRSSSSST TTUUVZ
12	8	78	AAAAAAAAAA AAABBCCCDD DEEEEEEEEE FGGHIIIIIJ LLLLMMNNNN OOOOOOPPRR RRRRSSSSSS TTTUUUVZ
13	9	91	AAAAAAAAAA AAAAABBCCC CDDDDEEEEE EEEEEFGGHI IIIIIJLLLL MMMNNNNNOO OOOOOPPRRR RRRRSSSSSS STTTTUUUVZ Ñ
14	9	105	AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAABB CCCCDDDDEE EEEEEEEEEE FGGHIIIIII IJLLLLLMMM NNNNNNOOOO OOOOPPPRRR RRRRRRSSSS SSSSSTTTTU UUVZÑ

French

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	AACEEILMNO PRSTU
6	4	21	AABCDEEEGI ILMNOPRSST U
7	4	28	AAABCDEEEF GHIILMNOOP RRSSTTUV
8	5	36	AAAABCDEEE EEFGHIIILM NNOOPRRSSS TTUUVZ
9	6	45	AAAAABCCDE EEEEEFGHII IILLMNNOOO PRRRSSSSTT TUUVZ
10	6	55	AAAAAABCCD EEEEEEEEFG HIIIILLLMM NNNOOOPPRR RRSSSSSTTT UUUVZ
11	7	66	AAAAAAABBC CDDEEEEEEE EEFGGHIIII ILLLMMNNNO OOOPPRRRRR SSSSSSTTTT UUUVYZ
12	8	78	AAAAAAAAAB BCCCDDEEEE EEEEEEEFGG HIIIIIILLL LMMNNNNOOO OPPRRRRRRS SSSSSTTTTT UUUUVXYZ
13	9	91	AAAAAAAAAA BBCCCDDEEE EEEEEEEEEE FFGGHIIIII IILLLLMMNN NNNOOOOOPP PQRRRRRRRS SSSSSSSTTT TTTUUUUVXY Z
14	9	105	AAAAAAAAAA ABBCCCCDDD EEEEEEEEEE EEEEEFFGGH IIIIIIIILL LLLMMMNNNN NNOOOOOOPP PQRRRRRRRR SSSSSSSSST TTTTTTUUUU UVXYZ

Italian

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	AACEIILMNO PRSTU
6	4	21	AABCDEEGII LMNOOPRSTU V
7	4	28	AAABCDEEEF GIIILMNOOO PRRSTTUV
8	5	36	AAAABCCDEE EFGIIIILLM NNOOOPRRRS STTUVZ
9	6	45	AAAAAABCCD EEEEFGIIII IILLMNNNOO OOPRRRSSST TTUVZ
10	6	55	AAAAAAABCC CDDEEEEEFG IIIIIIILLM MNNNOOOOOP PRRRRSSSTT TUUVZ
11	7	66	AAAAAAAABC CCDDEEEEEE FGGIIIIIII ILLLMMNNNN OOOOOOPPRR RRRSSSSTTT TUUVVZ
12	8	78	AAAAAAAAAA BBCCCCDDEE EEEEEFGGHI IIIIIIIIIL LLMMNNNNOO OOOOOPPRRR RRRSSSSTTT TTUUUVVZ
13	9	91	AAAAAAAAAA ABBCCCCDDE EEEEEEEEFF GGHIIIIIII IIIILLLLMM MNNNNNOOOO OOOOPPPRRR RRRRSSSSST TTTTTUUUVV Z
14	9	105	AAAAAAAAAA AAABBCCCCC DDDEEEEEEE EEEFFGGGHI IIIIIIIIII IILLLLMMMN NNNNNOOOOO OOOOPPPRRR RRRRRSSSSS STTTTTTTUU UVVVZ

Japanese

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	いうかきくこさしたつ とはよりん
6	4	21	いうかきくけこさしせ たちつとはふやよりん ん
7	4	28	いいううおかきくけこ さししせたちつとはひ ふまやゆよりんん
8	5	36	いいううおかかきくけ こさししすせそたちつ てとなはひふほまみや ゆよりんんん
9	6	45	あいいいうううえおか かききくくけこさしし しすせそたちつてとな はひふほまみもやゆよ らりんんん
10	6	55	あいいいううううえお かかかききくくけこさ しししすせそたちつつ てとなにのはひふほま みめもやゆよよらりろ わんんんん
11	7	66	あいいいいううううう えおかかかきききくく くけここさししししす せせそたたちつつてと となにのはひふへほま みめもやゆよよらりろ わんんんんん
12	8	78	あいいいいいうううう ううえおかかかかきき きくくくけここささし ししししすせせそたた ちちつつつてととなに のははひふへほまみめ もやゆよよよらりりれ ろわんんんんんん
13	9	91	あいいいいいいううう ううううえおかかかか ききききくくくけけこ ここささしししししし すせせそたたちちつつ つてととなにねのはは ひふふへほまみむめも ややゆゆよよよらりり るれろわんんんんんん ん
14	9	105	あいいいいいいいうう うううううううえおか かかかかききききくく くくけけこここささし ししししししすせせそ たたたちちつつつつて てととなにねのははひ ひふふへほほまみむめ もややゆゆよよよよら りりるれろわんんんん んんんんん

Dutch

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	ADEEGIKLNO PRSTU
6	4	21	AABDEEEFGI KLMNOPRSTT U
7	4	28	AABDEEEEFG IIJKLMNNOO PRRSTTUW
8	5	36	AAABCDEEEE EFGHIIJKLL MNNOOPRRSS TTUVWZ
9	6	45	AAABCDDEEE EEEFGGHIII JKKLLMNNNO OOPRRRSSTT TUVWZ
10	6	55	AAAABCDDEE EEEEEEFGGH IIIJKKLLLM MNNNNOOOPP RRRSSSTTTT UUVWZ
11	7	66	AAAAABBCDD DEEEEEEEEE EFGGHIIIIJ KKKLLLMMNN NNOOOOPPRR RRSSSSTTTT TUUVWZ
12	8	78	AAAAAABBCD DDEEEEEEEE EEEEFFGGGH IIIIIJKKKL LLLMMNNNNN OOOOOPPPRR RRRSSSSTTT TTTUUVWZ
13	9	91	AAAAAAABBC DDDDEEEEEE EEEEEEEEFF GGGHIIIIIJ KKKLLLLLMM MNNNNNNOOO OOOPPPRRRR RRSSSSSTTT TTTTUUUVVW Z
14	9	105	AAAAAAAABB CDDDDEEEEE EEEEEEEEEE EFFGGGGHHI IIIIIJJKKK KLLLLLMMMN NNNNNNOOOO OOOPPPRRRR RRRSSSSSST TTTTTTTUUU VVWWZ

Polish

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	AEIKLMNORS TUWYZ
6	4	21	AABCDEIKLM NOPRSTUWYZ Ł
7	4	28	AABCDEEGII JKLMNOOPRS TUWYZĄĘŁ
8	5	36	AAABCDEEGH IIJKKLMMNN OOOPRRSTUW YZĄĘŁŻ
9	6	45	AAAABCCDEE EGHIIIJKKL MMNNOOOPRR SSTUUWWYYZ ZĄĘŁŻ
10	6	55	AAAAABCCDE EEFGHIIIIJ KKKLLMMNNO OOOPPRRRSS TTUUWWYYZZ ÓĄĘŁŻ
11	7	66	AAAAAABCCD DEEEEFGHII IIJKKKLLMM MNNNOOOOOP PRRRSSSTTU UUWWYYYZZÓ ĄĘŁŁŚŻ
12	8	78	AAAAAAABBC CCDDEEEEFG HIIIIIJJKK KLLLMMMNNN OOOOOOPPRR RRSSSTTUUU WWWYYYZZZÓ ĄĄĆĘŁŁŚŻ
13	9	91	AAAAAAAAAB BCCCDDEEEE EFGGHIIIII IJJKKKKLLL MMMMNNNNOO OOOOOPPPRR RRSSSTTTUU UUWWWYYYYZ ZZÓĄĄĆĘŁŁŚ Ż
14	9	105	AAAAAAAAAA BBCCCCDDDE EEEEEFGGHI IIIIIIJJKK KKKLLLMMMM NNNNNOOOOO OOOPPPRRRR RSSSSTTTUU UUWWWWYYYY ZZZZÓĄĄĆĘŁ ŁŁŃŚŻ

Russian

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	АВЕИКЛМНОП РСТУЯ
6	4	21	ААБВДЕИКЛМ НООПРСТУЫЮ Я
7	4	28	ААБВГДЕЕЗИ ИКЛМНООПРС ТУХЧШЫЮЯ
8	5	36	АААБВГДЕЕЗ ИИЙКЛЛМННО ООПРРСТТУХ ЧШЫЬЮЯ
9	6	45	ААААБВВГДЕ ЕЕЖЗИИИЙКК ЛЛММННОООП РРССТТУУХЧ ШЫЬЮЯ
10	6	55	АААААБВВГД ЕЕЕЕЖЗИИИЙ ККЛЛЛММННН ООООППРРРС СТТТУУХЧШЩ ЫЬЮЯЁ
11	7	66	АААААБВВГД ДЕЕЕЕЕЖЗИИ ИИЙКККЛЛЛМ ММНННООООО ППРРРСССТТ ТУУУХЦЧШЩЫ ЫЬЮЯЯЁ
12	8	78	АААААААББВ ВВГДДЕЕЕЕЕ ЖЗЗИИИИИЙК ККЛЛЛЛМММН НННООООООП ПРРРРСССТТ ТТУУУУХЦЧШ ЩЫЫЬЮЯЯЁ
13	9	91	ААААААААББ ВВВГДДЕЕЕЕ ЕЕЖЗЗИИИИИ ИЙККККЛЛЛЛ ММММНННННО ООООООПППР РРРССССТТТ ТТУУУУФХХЦ ЧШЩЫЫЬЮЮЯЯ Ё
14	9	105	АААААААААБ БВВВВГГДДЕ ЕЕЕЕЕЕЖЗЗИ ИИИИИИЙЙКК ККЛЛЛЛЛМММ МННННННООО ООООООПППР РРРРССССТТ ТТТУУУУФХХ ЦЧЧШШЩЫЫЬЮ ЮЯЯЯЁ

Greek

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	ΑΑΕΗΙΚΛΜΝΟ ΡΣΤΥΩ
6	4	21	ΑΑΓΕΕΗΙΙΚΛ ΜΝΟΟΠΡΣΣΤΥ Ω
7	4	28	ΑΑΑΒΓΔΕΕΗΘ ΙΙΚΛΜΝΝΟΟΠ ΡΣΣΤΥΦΧΩ
8	5	36	ΑΑΑΑΒΓΔΕΕΕ ΗΘΙΙΙΚΛΜΝΝ ΟΟΟΠΡΡΣΣΣΤ ΤΥΥΦΧΩ
9	6	45	ΑΑΑΑΑΒΓΔΕΕ ΕΕΖΗΗΘΙΙΙΙ ΚΚΛΛΜΝΝΞΟΟ ΟΠΡΡΣΣΣΤΤΥ ΥΦΧΩΩ
10	6	55	ΑΑΑΑΑΑΒΓΔΕ ΕΕΕΕΖΗΗΘΙΙ ΙΙΚΚΛΛΜΜΝΝ ΝΞΟΟΟΟΠΠΡΡ ΡΣΣΣΣΤΤΤΥΥ ΥΦΧΩΩ
11	7	66	ΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΒΓ ΔΕΕΕΕΕΕΖΗΗ ΗΘΙΙΙΙΙΚΚΚ ΛΛΜΜΝΝΝΝΞΟ ΟΟΟΟΠΠΡΡΡΣ ΣΣΣΣΤΤΤΥΥΥ ΦΧΨΩΩΩ
12	8	78	ΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΒ ΓΓΔΔΕΕΕΕΕΕ ΕΖΗΗΗΘΙΙΙΙ ΙΙΚΚΚΛΛΛΜΜ ΜΝΝΝΝΞΟΟΟΟ ΟΟΠΠΡΡΡΡΣΣ ΣΣΣΣΤΤΤΤΥΥ ΥΥΦΧΨΩΩΩ
13	9	91	ΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑ ΒΓΓΔΔΕΕΕΕΕ ΕΕΕΖΗΗΗΘΙΙ ΙΙΙΙΙΚΚΚΚΛ ΛΛΜΜΜΝΝΝΝΝ ΞΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΠΠ ΠΡΡΡΡΡΣΣΣΣ ΣΣΣΤΤΤΤΤΥΥ ΥΥΦΦΧΧΨΩΩΩ Ω
14	9	105	ΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑ ΑΑΒΓΓΔΔΕΕΕ ΕΕΕΕΕΕΖΗΗΗ ΗΘΙΙΙΙΙΙΙΙ ΙΚΚΚΚΛΛΛΛΜ ΜΜΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΞ ΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΠ ΠΠΡΡΡΡΡΣΣΣ ΣΣΣΣΣΤΤΤΤΤ ΤΥΥΥΥΥΦΦΧΧ ΨΩΩΩΩ

Czech

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	ADEIKLMNOP RSTUV
6	4	21	ABDEHIKLMN OPRSTUVYZÁ Í
7	4	28	AABCDEEHIJ KLMNNOOPRS TUVYZÁÍŠ
8	5	36	AABCDEEEHI IJKLLMNNOO PRSTTUUVYZ ÁÍČĚŘŠ
9	6	45	AAABCDEEEH IIJKKLLMMN NNOOOPRRST TUUVVYZÁÉÍ ÝČĚŘŠ
10	6	55	AAAABCDDEE EEHIIJKKLL LMMNNNOOOO PPRRSSTTUU VVYZÁÁÉÍÍÝ ČĚŘŠŽ
11	7	66	AAAABCDDEE EEEHIIIJKK KLLLMMNNNN OOOOPPRRRS STTTUUUVVV YYZZÁÁÉÍÍÝ ČĚŘŠŮŽ
12	8	78	AAAAABCDDE EEEEFGHHII IJKKKLLLLM MMNNNNNOOO OOPPPRRRSS STTTTUUUUV VVYYZZÁÁÉÍ ÍÝČĚŘŠŮŽ
13	9	91	AAAAAABBCC DDDEEEEEEF GHHIIIIJJK KKLLLLLMMM NNNNNOOOOO OPPPRRRRSS STTTTUUUUV VVVYYZZÁÁÁ ÉÍÍÍÝČĚŘŠŮ Ž
14	9	105	AAAAAAABBC CDDDEEEEEE EEFGHHIIII IJJKKKKLLL LLMMMMNNNN NNNNOOOOOO OPPPRRRRSS SSTTTTTUUU UUVVVVYYZZ ÁÁÁÉÍÍÍÝČĚ ŘŠŠŮŽ

Slovak

Size	Rack size	Board size	Letters
5	3	15	ADEIKLMNOP RSTUV
6	4	21	ABCDEHIKLM NOPRSTUVZÁ Í
7	4	28	AABCDEEHIK LMNOOPRSTU VYZÁÍÚČŠ
8	5	36	AAABCDEEHI IJKKLLMMNN OOPRRSTUVY ZÁÍÚČŠ
9	6	45	AAABCDEEEH IIIJKKLLMM NNOOOPRRST TUUVVYZÁÍÚ ÝČŠŤŽ
10	6	55	AAAABCDDEE EEHIIIJKKL LLMMNNNOOO OPPRRRSSTT UUVVYZÁÁÍÚ ÝČŠŤŽ
11	7	66	AAAAABCDDE EEEEFGHIII IJKKKLLLMM MNNNOOOOPP RRRSSTTTUU UVVVYZÁÁÉÍ ÚÝČŠŤŽ
12	8	78	AAAAAABBCC DDEEEEEEFG HHIIIIJKKK LLLLMMMNNN NOOOOOPPRR RRSSTTTUUU VVVYZZÁÁÉÍ ÍÚÝČĽŠŤŽ
13	9	91	AAAAAAABBC CDDDEEEEEE FGHHIIIIIJ JKKKKLLLLM MMMNNNNNOO OOOOPPPRRR RSSSTTTUUU VVVYZZÁÁÉÍ ÍÚÚÝČČĽŠŠŤ Ž
14	9	105	AAAAAAAABB CCDDDEEEEE EEEFGHHIII IIIJJKKKKL LLLLMMMMNN NNNNOOOOOO OOPPPRRRRR SSSTTTTUUU UVVVVYYZZÁ ÁÁÉÍÍÚÚÝČČ ĽŠŠŤŽ

WYPS for 4 players

The 4-player variant is a lot of fun. Players play together in pairs. Each of the four players has as many stones as in a two-player game. This means that, for example, on a board of size 8, each player has 5 stones. The start of the game is similar to a 2-player game. Players randomly select 4 sets of stones and players sequentially choose their set of stones in a counterclockwise order. The player who picked the stones last starts the game.

In a 4-player game, the Atari rule does not apply. This means that the connection does not have to be broken immediately. If one of the players no longer has stones, the game continues and that player passes their turn.

Important rule: players can talk out loud during the game and can analyze their moves together !

The game is very challenging because the end phase of the game when there are no more stones in the bag occurs very early.