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Rule Categories

The game contains 15 rules organized by function:
  1. Initialization - Board setup
  2. Display - Board rendering
  3. Player Moves - Human input and validation
  4. AI Strategy - Cat movement logic
  5. Endgame - Win condition detection

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Initialization Rules

Purpose: Creates the initial 8x8 checkerboard with alternating black and white squares.Conditions:
  • (ingresar-tablero) control fact exists
Actions:
  1. Generates all 64 squares using nested loops
  2. Assigns valor 0 (white) or 1 (black) based on position parity
  3. Asserts (ingresar-pos-iniciales) to trigger piece placement
Code:
(defrule ingresar-tablero-en-blanco
  ?h <- (ingresar-tablero)
  =>
  (retract ?h)
  (assert (ingresar-pos-iniciales))
  
  (loop-for-count (?i 1 8)do
    (loop-for-count (?j 1 8)do
      (if (eq(mod (+ ?i ?j) 2) 0)
        then
          (assert (casilla (fila ?i)(columna ?j)(valor 0)))
        else
          (assert (casilla (fila ?i)(columna ?j)(valor 1)))
      )
    )
  )
)
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:164-207
Purpose: Places the mouse and four cats in their starting positions.Conditions:
  • (ingresar-pos-iniciales) control fact exists
  • Captures fact indices for row 1, col 4 (mouse) and row 8, cols 1,3,5,7 (cats)
Actions:
  1. Modifies mouse square to valor 4
  2. Modifies cat squares to valor 5 with unique IDs (5 1, 5 2, 5 3, 5 4)
  3. Retracts control fact
Code:
(defrule posiciones-piezas-iniciales
  ?h <- (ingresar-pos-iniciales)
  ?raton <- (casilla (fila 1)(columna 4)(valor ?))
  ?gato1 <- (casilla (fila 8)(columna 1)(valor ?))
  ?gato2 <- (casilla (fila 8)(columna 3)(valor ?))
  ?gato3 <- (casilla (fila 8)(columna 5)(valor ?))
  ?gato4 <- (casilla (fila 8)(columna 7)(valor ?))
  =>
  (modify ?raton (valor 4))
  (modify ?gato1 (valor 5 1))
  (modify ?gato2 (valor 5 2))
  (modify ?gato3 (valor 5 3))
  (modify ?gato4 (valor 5 4))
  (retract ?h)
)
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:209-259

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Display Rules

Purpose: Renders the board to console using ASCII art in a 3-pass system.Conditions:
  • (imprime ?i ?j) where i*j ≤ 64
  • Matching pieza fact for current square’s valor
  • (parteImprimir ?part) indicates which line to print (1-3)
  • (actualizar-tablero) control fact exists
Actions:
  1. Prints appropriate part (1, 2, or 3) of the piece ASCII art
  2. Advances column, or wraps to next row and next part
  3. After completing all 64 squares × 3 parts, asserts (pedir-movimiento-raton)
Rendering Logic:
  • Each square is rendered in 3 horizontal passes
  • Borders and row numbers are added automatically
  • Column indices printed at bottom
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:262-363

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Player Move Rules

Purpose: Prompts player to enter mouse movement destination.Conditions:
  • (pedir-movimiento-raton) control fact exists
  • Captures current mouse position
Actions:
  1. Prompts for row and column input
  2. Validates input is within board bounds (1-8)
  3. Validates destination is within mouse’s diagonal reach
  4. Asserts (fila-columna-a-mover row col) and (comprobar-casilla-ocupada)
Validation:
  • Must be exactly one diagonal square away from current position
  • Row and column must both change
  • Sum of row difference + column difference must equal 2
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:367-439
Purpose: Verifies the destination square is unoccupied.Conditions:
  • (comprobar-casilla-ocupada) control fact exists
  • (fila-columna-a-mover ?f ?c) from player input
  • Captures valor of destination square
Actions:
  • If valor = 1 (empty black square): Assert (ejecutar-movimiento-jugador-raton)
  • If occupied: Print error, re-assert (pedir-movimiento-raton) and (actualizar-tablero)
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:441-485
Purpose: Executes the validated mouse movement.Conditions:
  • (ejecutar-movimiento-jugador-raton) control fact exists
  • (fila-columna-a-mover ?f1 ?c1) with destination
  • Captures both destination and current mouse squares
Actions:
  1. Modifies destination square to valor 4 (mouse)
  2. Modifies current square to valor 1 (empty black)
  3. Asserts (calcular-esquinas-raton) to trigger AI response
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:487-540

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AI Strategy Rules

Purpose: Calculates the two diagonal forward squares for each cat.Conditions:
  • (buscar-diagonales-gatos) control fact exists
  • Captures each cat’s position
Actions:
  • For each cat, asserts (esquina-gato ?idGato ?filaArriba ?colIzq ?colDer)
  • Handles edge cases (cats at column 1 or 8)
  • Cats on row 1 have no forward moves
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:542-610
Purpose: Implements “block formation” strategy - cats advance together as a solid line.Salience: Default (0)Strategy:
  1. Identifies cats with only ONE available forward diagonal
  2. If multiple cats qualify, moves the one farthest from mouse
  3. Moves toward the available diagonal
Conditions:
  • Mouse position
  • All four cat diagonal squares
  • Values of all eight diagonal destinations
Actions:
  • Determines which cat(s) have exactly one open diagonal
  • Compares row distances to mouse to pick deepest cat
  • Asserts (fila-columna-mover-gatos row col catID) and (ejecutar-movimiento-maquina-gato)
  • Re-asserts (buscar-diagonales-gatos), (semi-encerrar-raton), (gato-mas-alejado)
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:612-938
This is the primary AI strategy that keeps cats advancing as a coordinated group.
Purpose: Moves the cat farthest from mouse when no other strategy applies.Salience: -10 (lowest priority)Conditions:
  • (gato-mas-alejado) control fact exists
  • All cat positions
  • Mouse column position
Actions:
  1. Calculates column distance from each cat to mouse
  2. If any cat is >2 columns away, moves that cat diagonally toward mouse
  3. Direction based on which side of board mouse is on (column 4 threshold)
  4. If all cats close, moves cat 4 to its right diagonal
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:941-1108
Purpose: Detects when mouse is surrounded on both sides and tightens the formation.Pattern Detected:
|#|_|5|_|4|_|5|_|
|_|#|_|5|_|5|_|#|
Conditions:
  • (semi-encerrar-raton) control fact exists
  • Tests for specific cat formation: two cats one row above mouse flanking it, two cats same row as mouse on outer edges
Actions:
  • Moves the cat 2 columns away from mouse (on mouse’s row) diagonally forward toward mouse
  • Direction depends on which side of board mouse is on
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:1110-1223
Purpose: Computes the 2-4 diagonal squares around the mouse.Conditions:
  • (calcular-esquinas-raton) control fact exists
  • Mouse position
Actions:
  • Calculates up to 4 diagonal squares (fewer if mouse is on edge/corner)
  • Asserts (esquinasRaton ?filaInf ?filaSup ?colIzq ?colDer)
  • Triggers (cubrirPosibleAvanceRaton) and (encerrar-raton) checks
Edge Cases:
  • Row 1: only 2 upward diagonals
  • Column 1 or 8: only 2 diagonals
  • Row 1 + Column 8: only 1 diagonal (corner)
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:1226-1300
Purpose: Detects endgame - when mouse has only ONE available diagonal and a cat can reach it.Salience: 10 (highest priority)Conditions:
  • (encerrar-raton) control fact exists
  • (esquinasRaton) fact with all mouse diagonal values
  • All cat positions
Actions:
  1. Checks each of 4 diagonals to find the one with valor 1
  2. Confirms exactly 3 diagonals are blocked
  3. Checks if any cat’s forward diagonal matches that open square
  4. If yes: moves that cat and asserts (finalizar-juego)
Win Condition: This rule firing means the cats have successfully trapped the mouse.Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:1302-1678
Purpose: Detects and responds to 4 specific tactical patterns to prevent mouse escape.Patterns:
  1. 3D Plane Right: Cat directly in front of mouse, with formation extending right
  2. Three in Row One Down: Three cats in horizontal line 2 rows above mouse
  3. 3D Plane Left: Cat directly in front, formation extending left
  4. Snake Pattern: Cats in S-shaped formation
  5. Straggler Recovery: Catches cats that fell behind and brings them forward
Actions:
  • Each pattern has specific cat movement to maintain trap integrity
  • Typically moves a cat to block mouse’s most promising escape route
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:1680-2034
This rule contains complex spatial pattern matching. Each pattern is extensively documented with ASCII diagrams in the source code.
Purpose: Executes the cat movement determined by AI strategy rules.Conditions:
  • (buscar-diagonales-gatos) control fact
  • (ejecutar-movimiento-maquina-gato) control fact
  • (fila-columna-mover-gatos ?row ?col ?catID) with movement details
  • Destination square
Actions:
  1. Retrieves cat’s valor using fact-slot-value
  2. Modifies destination square to cat’s valor
  3. Modifies cat’s current square to valor 1 (empty)
  4. Prints move notification with cat ID and destination
  5. Asserts (actualizar-tablero) to refresh display
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:2056-2110

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Endgame Rules

Purpose: Displays game over message when cats win.Conditions:
  • (finalizar-juego) fact exists (asserted by encerrar-raton rule)
Actions:
  1. Prints ASCII art victory message:
GAME OVER...
GANAN LOS GATOS
(THE CATS WIN)
  1. Prompts player to type (jugar) to start new game
  2. Calls (halt) to stop rule execution
Location: raton_y_gatos.clp:2036-2053
The game currently only detects cat victory. Mouse victory (reaching row 8) is not implemented in the rule set.

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Rule Execution Order

Rules fire based on CLIPS conflict resolution strategy:
  1. Salience (priority): Higher salience fires first
    • encerrar-raton: salience 10
    • Most rules: salience 0 (default)
    • mover-gato-mas-alejado-raton: salience -10
  2. Recency: More recently asserted facts have priority
  3. Specificity: Rules with more conditions have priority

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Typical Turn Sequence

  1. pedir-movimiento-raton - Get player input
  2. comprobar-casilla-ocupada - Validate move
  3. ejecutar-movimiento-jugador-raton - Apply move
  4. calcular-esquinas-raton - Analyze new mouse position
  5. encerrar-raton - Check for immediate win (highest priority)
  6. cubrirPosibleAvanceRaton - Check tactical patterns
  7. buscar-diagonales-gatos - Calculate cat options
  8. ejecutar-movimiento-completar-fila-gatos - Main strategy
  9. semi-encerrar-raton - Tightening formation
  10. mover-gato-mas-alejado-raton - Fallback strategy (lowest priority)
  11. ejecutar-movimiento-maquina-gato - Apply cat move
  12. actualizar-tablero - Redraw board

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