data structure

[ouzy27]

hey! i'm kind of new to java and i want to implement a Nine Men Morris game, but i'm still not sure about the data structure i should use. I'm thinking either 2 dimentional arrays or circular double linked lists. Please help me choose... what do you think is best. and if you choose link Lists please tell me how to connect the 3 lists together at specific links (U know to adjoin the squares together at the midpoint of each edge)
thanxx
cheers

[JosAH]

I'd use several (simple) data structures that help in finding a move and an empty
position as well as a three on a row situation. You can represent that board as
49 bits; not every bit represents a valid board position. Those 49 bits can easily
be stored in a single long int variable. Use a long for each player.

A 1 (one) on a bit position means a piece is positioned at that particular location.
Use a map Map<Long, List<Long>> that stores the potential legal moves given
a certain board position. If the destination position is empty, you can move there.

There are 16 possible 'three in a row' board positions so 16 longs will do here.
If you bitwise and them successively with the board longs you can easily find
out if such a three in a row position is present on the board.

You figure out the rest.

kind regards,

Jos