Splice

Splice is an evolution of Spline that can be played with a Series: Shibumi set, as it uses a 4x4 holes board and balls in three colours (white, black and red).

Start: The board starts empty.

Play: Players take turns placing either:

1) a ball of their colour on any hole or any platform that contains
at least one red ball, or

2) a red ball on any hole or any platform.

End: A player wins by making a flat line spanning side to side, or
corner to corner, on any level, composed entirely of friendly and
neutral balls (at least one of each).

If the placement of a red ball achieves this for both players, then
the mover wins.

Strategy: White should place at least one red ball on the board level,
otherwise Black can force a win due to parity. White should defend
this red ball so that Black can’t exploit it.