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Gemini Executive Synthesis

Tiao, a digital version of a two-player, turn-based strategy board game, available in-browser with multiplayer, AI, and over-the-board modes.

Technical Positioning
A free, fun, and genuinely engaging digital board game, aiming for wider adoption and recognition.
SaaS Insight & Market Implications
This is a consumer-focused digital board game, not a B2B SaaS offering. Its market implications are limited to the gaming sector. However, the underlying technical stack demonstrates a robust, modern approach to building real-time, interactive web applications. The use of TypeScript, Next.js, Express, Websockets, MongoDB, Docker, and specific deployment/analytics tools (Hetzner VPS, Coolify, OpenPanel) provides a valuable blueprint for developers building similar complex web services. While the product itself is not B2B, the architectural choices and implementation details offer insights into scalable, real-time web development practices relevant to B2B SaaS infrastructure.
Proprietary Technical Taxonomy
two-player turn-based strategy board game Checkers meets Go free browser multiplayer AI over the board mode source is on GitHub (AGPL)

Raw Developer Origin & Technical Request

Source Icon Hacker News Apr 27, 2026
Show HN: Tiao, A two-player turn-based board game

Hi HN,I built this digital version of Tiao, a two-player turn based strategy board game. Think Checkers meets Go. It's free, runs in the browser, has multiplayer, AI, over the board mode and a lot of other neat things. The source is on GitHub (AGPL).The game was originally designed by my friend Andreas Edmeier. He created the rules and has been playtesting and refining the game design for years. I built the website for it. The core in about 2 weeks using TypeScript, Next.js, Express, Websockets, and MongoDB. Fully dockerized, deployed on a Hetzner VPS with Coolify. Authentication with better-auth. Real-time gameplay, ELO matchmaking, OpenPanel analytics, and a fully functional achievements system.Play it: playtiao.com
Source: github.com/trebeljahr/tiaoHa... to answer questions about the tech, the game design, or anything else.My hope is that more people will play this game because I think it is genuinely fun and would be cool to one day see people play this on a Go board or on their phones/computers.Have a good one.

Developer Debate & Comments

ayazumi • Apr 27, 2026
[dead]
Rendello • Apr 27, 2026
Cool! I've tried (and I guess failed) to build two of my favourite combinatorial games: the ancient "Konane" and the modern "Shōbu". At least the latter's project taught me property-based testing in Erlang.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dnanehttps://boardgamegeek.com/video/482389/shobu/how-to-play-sho...
WillMorr • Apr 27, 2026
Clever! I really appreciate how well done the tutorial is, it's just about the easiest game intro I've ever experienced.
homeonthemtn • Apr 27, 2026
I appreciate the tutorial. I thought it was well done. I'd love to see something like that in some board games I've played.
ymaws • Apr 26, 2026
I can't beat easy, incredibly addictive game :)
scythmic_waves • Apr 26, 2026
It's fun! I play some chess but I am not a natural at this game. I think I need an AI easier than easy haha
rytill • Apr 26, 2026
Hey! I played against a bot and it was pretty fun.Small suggestion: too many queues can make it very difficult to build up a network of players at first. I'd suggest, for now, lowering the amount of available time control queues so that two players who happen to be on at the same time are more likely to actually find a game.

Engagement Signals

37
Upvotes
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Comments

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Macro Market Trends

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