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QuantumCheckers
Quantum Checkers is a game of Checkers demonstrating effects of Quantum Mechanical phenomenon like entanglement, interference and superposition. It is also possible to get a Schrodinger's Cat like situation in the game. The game just doesn't use "randomness" as a special effect(which isn't completely quantum), it is a quantum circuit behaving like a game of checkers.
Video games provide a platform for building intuition about stuff that we do not experience in our daily lives. Simple games like tic-tac-toe, chess, and checkers that require strategy, can help explore the weird world of quantum mechanics while enjoying the game.
NOTE: This game has been submitted for the IBM Quantum Awards 2019.
Gameplay video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FklcCPCSuSw
Installation Instructions
Download and run the QuantumCheckers_setup.exe file. Follow the install instructions. After the setup is complete, you can run the game from QuantumCheckers.exe.
***Copy the python36.dll file from \QuantumCheckers\Binaries to the main executable folder, , in case the application cannot find it.
This release already includes an embedded python with required libraries installed. In case, it is not present, an embedded version of python, with the folder containing all the modules, must be extracted in the following location: \QuantumCheckers\Binaries\
The Scripts folder should also be copied in the following location (if not already present): \QuantumCheckers\Content\
Rules
While rules vary from country to country, these rules are a modification to American Checkers, using quantum phenomenon. Checkers is played by two players. Each player begins the game with 12 colored discs. Each player places his or her pieces on the 12 dark squares closest to him or her. White moves first. Players then alternate moves.
The win condition is when all of the opponent's pieces have been captured, or one of the player resigns.
1. Moves are allowed only on the dark squares, so pieces always move diagonally. Normal pieces are always limited to forward moves (towards the opponent).
2. A piece making a non-capturing move (not involving a jump) may move only one square.
3. All the pieces can make a Quantum move. In that case there's a 50% probability that it has stayed on the same square and 50% probability that it has moved to the chosen square.
4. A piece making a capturing move (a jump) leaps over one of the opponent's pieces, landing in a straight diagonal line on the other side. Only one piece may be captured in a single jump; however, multiple jumps are allowed during a single turn.
5. A forced measurement can be performed by attempting to move to a square containing a piece having probability less than 100%.
6. During a possible capture(removal of the attacked piece), the state of the attacked, attacking and the target square are measured. The original recalculation of probabilities happens in accordance with collapse of the quantum states of the qubits associated with each piece. The probabilities change is explained below:
a. If the attacked piece is not in the square, then the probability of it being in this square is distributed between other positions of this piece(with a total sum of 100%)
b. If the attacked piece is in the square, the piece disappears from this position and the probability of it being in other positions stays the same(lesser than 100% in total).
7. In case of multiple captures in a single turn, measurements are made at each capture step.
8. Multiple captures are unidirectional, that is if a multiple capture is possible in another direction, it is not allowed. This rule has been chosen for arbitrary reasons.
9. When a piece reaches the furthest row from the player who controls that piece, it is crowned and becomes a king.
Kings are limited to moving diagonally but may move both forward and backward.
10. The game ends when one of the opponents reduces the probability of the existence of the other player's all pieces to 0%.
In the regular checkers, if a player is able to make a capture, the jump must be made. If more than one capture is available, the player is free to choose whichever he or she prefers. But since in this game, a piece can be in a state of having probability less than 1, captures are optional. However, if a selected piece has a possible capture, it must be made. The player can choose to move some other piece on board.