Stymie

Stymie is a classic game of territory control and capture,

played on a 7 x 7 board made up of 24 Perimeter spaces, 24 Prime spaces and the Center space. There are 2 types of pieces, 26 stones (13 Gold and 13 Silver) and the Antipode. The game starts with the Antipode on the Center space Silver side up and an otherwise empty board.

Players take turns putting pieces on the board, moving pieces already in play, or capturing. The first player to occupy 7 Prime spaces with his stones, capture 7 opposing stones, or reduce the number of opposing stones in Prime spaces to 0 wins.

A dominant position can take a losing turn on a single move. The Antipode can't capture, can't be owned and doesn't count toward any victory conditions, but it can be the most pivotal piece in the game.

It seems simple, until you start playing.

-description from Marc White, the designer