Editing Pente (section)

=== Advanced shapes ===
Advanced Pente play often utilizes more complicated shapes built from basic shapes in order to achieve initiative and positional advantage. Among the most common are the I, L, h, X, and H shapes along with the 4x3 pattern, the 5x3 pattern, and the Hat.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=2004-12-11|title=The World Pente Players Federation|url=http://www.playpente.com/cool_shapes.html|access-date=2021-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041211230652/http://www.playpente.com/cool_shapes.html|archive-date=2004-12-11}}</ref>

; The I
[[File:The I shape.jpg|thumb|'''The I shape''' is formed by an open stretch two.]]
The I shape is a stretch two unbound on either side and with the space to expand to an L shape in at least one of the applicable directions. The l shape, like the stretch two, protects your two stones from being captured as a pair, and has the ability to threaten to become an open tria or an L shape. It is the weakest of the "letter" shapes and is largely valuable for its potential rather than its strength as a pattern.<ref name=":7" />

;The L
[[File:The L shape.jpg|left|thumb|'''The L shape''' is formed by three stones in a 3x3 right triangle pattern. The L shape is built by forming another stretch two off of the I shape.]]
The L shape, pictured left, builds off the I shape by forming another split two using one of the stones from the I shape and forming an L shape. The L shape is protected from capture because of its utilization of stretch twos, but it also has more potential for threats than the I shape. The I shape can be blocked from forming an open tria by placing a stone in between it, however if the opponent tries to do the same with the L shape, then the player who formed can immediately use the stretch two not blocked to form an open tria in two different ways forcing the opponent to respond.<ref name=":7" />

;The h
[[File:The h shape.jpg|thumb|'''The h shape''' is created by placing a stone in the center of the L shape. Because the placement of the center stone creates an open tria, the opponent is forced to respond. This allows white to progress to the X shape.]]
A play that creates an open tria in the middle of the L shape forms the h shape. The h shape is powerful because when it has been formed the opponent must immediately respond to the open tria threat. This begins actively using the potential for threats that began with the I shape and gives the first player initiative. From the h shape a player can immediately form three other open trias. One of the open trias available forms the X shape. If the opponent fails to stop this from happening they will lose the game by allowing the attacking player to form an unstoppable open tessera.<ref name=":7" />

;The X
[[File:X shape Pente.jpg|left|thumb|'''The X shape''' is formed by two open trias crosscutting each other diagonally. This shape gives the player who forms it four options for building open trias.]]
The x shape continues the momentum given to it by the h shape. The x shape allows the player to choose from upwards of four open tria threats, but more importantly gives the player enough initiative to form the H shape.<ref name=":7" />

;The H
[[File:The H shape.jpg|thumb|'''The H shape''' is formed by creating two open trias out of the x shape on opposite sides of the formation. If it hasn't been effectively dealt with by the opponent it allows the forming player to create two open trias at the same time.]]
The H shape is the most powerful  of the advanced letter shapes. When done in the correct order the H allows the player who made it to end the sequence of letters in a double open three, at least one of which will end in an open tessera. The H shape is made by choosing two of the four open tria threats available to the player in the X formation. If an open tria is made on opposite ends of the X shape so that a pattern resembling a capital H is formed, then the middle of the H creates an open tria at the same time one of the ends does. The opponent cannot block both so one of them can be formed into an open tessera.<ref name=":7" />

;4x3 triangle
[[File:4x3 Pente Shape.jpg|left|thumb|'''The 4x3 triangle''' is formed by placing three stones so that a stretch two intersects a potential line formed from two stones and two empty intersections.]]
The 4x3 triangle is a triangle made of three stones. Two are spaced 4 intersections wide with two empty spaces in between with a third stone placed two intersections away from one of the stones with an empty space in between. This creates two perpendicular "potential" lines. The 4x3 triangle is powerful because it allows you to form an open tria, forcing the opponent to respond, and then form a stretch tria immediately after. Eventually, when played correctly it allows you to form an H shape along with its potential for a double tria threat.<ref name=":6" />

;5x3 triangle
[[File:5x3 Pente shape.jpg|thumb|'''The 5x3 triangle''' allows the player to form two trias and at least one open tria regardless of how the opponent responds.]]
The 5x3 Triangle, much like the 4x3 triangle, is a triangle formed by three stones. One side of the triangle is 5 intersections long while the other two sides are 3 intersections in length. The triangle makes use of two stretch twos that allows the player to form an open tria threat even if the opponent attempts to place a stone in between one of the two stretch twos.<ref name=":6" /> Rollie Tesh, the 1983 World Champion, argues that, while powerful, it is easier to see for advanced players and therefore easier to counter than several of the other triangle attack patterns that can be used.<ref name=":11" />

;The Hat
[[File:The Hat.jpg|left|thumb|'''The Hat''' is a powerful [[scalene triangle]] pattern formed by placing three stones. It gives non-obvious potential for creating initiative and forming open and stretch trias.]]
The hat is a scalene triangle formed by three stones that allows the player to form a stretch tria and then immediately after an open tria, forcing the opponent to respond. Once the open tria is formed, the player can make an X shape and proceed to making an H shape, sacrificing the pair made by its stretch tria in the process.<ref name=":6" />