[Question]
  [
Your task make a bot that plays [Atomas](http://sirnic.com/atomas), with the highest score.
## How the game works:
The gameboard starts with a ring of 6 "atoms", with numbers ranging from `1` to `3`. You can "play" an atom between two atoms, or on another atom, depending on the atom itself.
You can either have a normal atom, or a special atom.
### The normal atom:
You can play a normal atom between any two available atoms on the board.
You start off with atoms in the range `1 to 3`, but the range increases by 1 once every 40 moves (so after 40 moves, the range becomes `2 to 4`).
If there are atoms on the board that are lower than the range, it has a `1 / no. of atoms of that number on the board` chance of spawning.
Let's say you have a `2` to play, and the board looks like this:
```
   1 1 2 1
```
Let's place the `2` to the right of the `1`.
The board now becomes:
```
   1 1 2 1 2
```
**Note: the board wraps around, so the `1` on the far left is actually next to the `2` on the far right. This will be important later.**
There are 4 types of "special" atoms, and they are:
### The `+` atom:
This atom is played between two atoms. It has a 1 in 5 chance of spawning.
If the atoms on both sides of the `+` atom are the same, fusion occurs. Here's how it works:
```
The two atoms fuse together to create an atom one higher.
(So, two 3 atoms fuse together to form one 4 atom.)
While the atoms on both sides of the fused atom are equal:
    If the atoms on the side >= the fused atom:
        The new fused atom = the old fused atom's value + 2.
    If the atoms on the side < the fused atom:
        The new fused atom = the old fused atom's value + 1.
```
Example:
```
   1 1 3 2 2 3  (the 1 on the left-hand side "wraps back" 
                 to the 3 on the right-hand side)
Let's use the + on the two 2's in the middle.
-> 1 1 3 3 3    (the two 2's fused together to make a 3)
-> 1 1 5        (the two 3's fused with the 3, and because 3 >= 3,
                 the new fused atom = 3 + 2 = 5)
-> 6            (the two 1's fused with the 5, since the board wraps,
                 and because 1 < 5, the new fused atom = 5 + 1 = 6)
Because the atoms on the sides of the 6 don't exist, fusion stops,
and the board is now [6].
```
If the atoms on both sides of the `+` atom are different, then the `+` stays on the board.
Example:
```
   1 3 2 3 1 1
Let's use the + on the 2 and 3 in the middle.
-> 1 3 2 + 3 1 1 (2 != 3, so the + stays on the board)
```
### The `-` atom:
This atom is played on another atom. It has a 1 in 10 chance of spawning.
The `-` atom removes an atom from the board, and gives you a choice to either:
* play the removed atom next round, or
* turn it into a + atom to play next round.
Example:
```
   1 3 2 3 1 1
Let's use the - on the left-hand 2.
-> 1 3 3 1 1    (the 2 is now removed from the board)
Let's turn it into a +, and place it in between the 3's.
-> 1 4 1 1      (the two 3's fused together to make a 4)
-> 5 1          (the two 1's fused with the 4, and because 1 < 4,
                 the new fused atom = 4 + 1 = 5)
```
### The black `+` atom (`B`):
This atom is played between 2 atoms. It has a 1 in 80 chance of spawning, and only spawns once your score > 750.
This atom is basically the same as the `+` atom, except that it fuses any two atoms together, even `+`'s. From then on, it follows the `+` rule (it only fuses atoms together if the atoms on both sides of the fused atom are equal).
The fused atom as a result of the black `+` is equal to:
* the higher number atom in the fusion + 3
* `4` if the two fused atoms are `+`'s
Example:
```
   1 3 2 1 3 1
Let's use the black + on the 2 and 1 in the middle.
-> 1 3 5 3 1    (the 2 and 1 fused together to make a 2 + 3 = 5)
-> 1 6 1        (+ rule)
-> 7            (+ rule)
```
Another example:
```
   2 + + 2
Let's use the black + on the two +'s.
-> 2 4 2        (the two +'s fused together to make a 4)
-> 5            (+ rule)
```
### The clone atom (`C`):
This atom is played on another atom. It has a 1 in 60 chance of spawning, and only spawns once your score > 1500.
The clone atom allows you to choose an atom, and play it next round.
Example:
```
   1 1 2 1
Let's use the clone on the 2, and place it to the right of the 1.
-> 1 1 2 1 2
```
Here is my build of the game, in Python 2:
```
import random
import subprocess
logs='atoms.log'
atom_range = [1, 3]
board = []
score = 0
move_number = 0
carry_over = " "
previous_moves = []
specials = ["+", "-", "B", "C"]
def plus_process(user_input):
    global board, score, previous_moves, matches
    previous_moves = []
    matches = 0
    def score_calc(atom):
        global score, matches
        if matches == 0:
            score += int(round((1.5 * atom) + 1.25, 0))
        else:
            if atom < final_atom:
                outer = final_atom - 1
            else:
                outer = atom
            score += ((-final_atom + outer + 3) * matches) - final_atom + (3 * outer) + 3
        matches += 1
    if len(board) < 1 or user_input == "":
        board.append("+")
        return None
    board_start = board[:int(user_input) + 1]
    board_end = board[int(user_input) + 1:]
    final_atom = 0
    while len(board_start) > 0 and len(board_end) > 0:
        if board_start[-1] == board_end[0] and board_end[0] != "+":
            if final_atom == 0:
                final_atom = board_end[0] + 1
            elif board_end[0] >= final_atom:
                final_atom += 2
            else:
                final_atom += 1
            score_calc(board_end[0])
            board_start = board_start[:-1]
            board_end = board_end[1:]
        else:
            break
    if len(board_start) == 0:
        while len(board_end) > 1:
            if board_end[0] == board_end[-1] and board_end[0] != "+":
                if final_atom == 0:
                    final_atom = board_end[0]
                elif board_end[0] >= final_atom:
                    final_atom += 2
                else:
                    final_atom += 1
                score_calc(board_end[0])
                board_end = board_end[1:-1]
            else:
                break
    if len(board_end) == 0:
        while len(board_start) > 1:
            if board_start[0] == board_start[-1] and board_start[0] != "+":
                if board_start[0] >= final_atom:
                    final_atom += 2
                else:
                    final_atom += 1
                score_calc(board_start[0])
                board_start = board_start[1:-1]
            else:
                break
    if matches == 0:
        board = board_start + ["+"] + board_end
    else:
        board = board_start + [final_atom] + board_end
        for a in range(len(board) - 1):
            if board[a] == "+":
                if board[(a + 1) % len(board)] == board[a - 1]:
                    board = board[:a - 1] + board[a:]
                    plus_process(a)
                    break
def minus_process(user_input, minus_check):
    global carry_over, board
    carry_atom = board[int(user_input)]
    if user_input == len(board) - 1:
        board = board[:-1]
    else:
        board = board[:int(user_input)] + board[int(user_input) + 1:]
    if minus_check == "y":
        carry_over = "+"
    elif minus_check == "n":
        carry_over = str(carry_atom)
def black_plus_process(user_input):
    global board
    if board[int(user_input)] == "+":
        if board[int(user_input) + 1] == "+":
            inter_atom = 4
        else:
            inter_atom = board[int(user_input) + 1] + 2
    else:
        if board[int(user_input)] + 1 == "+":
            inter_atom = board[int(user_input)] + 2
        else:
            inter_list = [board[int(user_input)], board[int(user_input) + 1]]
            inter_atom = (inter_list.sort())[1] + 2
    board = board[int(user_input) - 1:] + [inter_atom] * 2 + board[int(user_input) + 1:]
    plus_process(int(user_input) - 1)
def clone_process(user_input):
    global carry_over
    carry_over = str(board[int(user_input)])
def regular_process(atom,user_input):
    global board
    if user_input == "":
        board.append(random.randint(atom_range[0], atom_range[1]))
    else:
        board = board[:int(user_input) + 1] + [int(atom)] + board[int(user_input) + 1:]
def gen_specials():
    special = random.randint(1, 240)
    if special <= 48:
        return "+"
    elif special <= 60 and len(board) > 0:
        return "-"
    elif special <= 64 and len(board) > 0 and score >= 750:
        return "B"
    elif special <= 67 and len(board) > 0 and score >= 1500:
        return "C"
    else:
        small_atoms = []
        for atom in board:
            if atom not in specials and atom < atom_range[0]:
                small_atoms.append(atom)
        small_atom_check = random.randint(1, len(board))
        if small_atom_check <= len(small_atoms):
            return str(small_atoms[small_atom_check - 1])
        else:
            return str(random.randint(atom_range[0], atom_range[1]))
def specials_call(atom, user_input):
    specials_dict = {
        "+": plus_process,
        "-": minus_process,
        "B": black_plus_process,
        "C": clone_process
    }
    if atom in specials_dict.keys():
        if atom == "-":
            minus_process(user_input[0], user_input[1])
        else:
            specials_dict[atom](user_input[0])
    else:
        regular_process(atom,user_input[0])
def init():
    global board, score, move_number, carry_over, previous_moves
    board = []
    score = 0
    for _ in range(6):
        board.append(random.randint(1, 3))
    while len(board) <= 18:
        move_number += 1
        if move_number % 40 == 0:
            atom_range[0] += 1
            atom_range[1] += 1
        if carry_over != " ":
            special_atom = carry_over
            carry_over = " "
        elif len(previous_moves) >= 5:
            special_atom = "+"
        else:
            special_atom = gen_specials()
        previous_moves.append(special_atom)
        bot_command = "python yourBot.py"
        bot = subprocess.Popen(bot_command.split(),
                               stdout = subprocess.PIPE,
                               stdin = subprocess.PIPE)
        to_send="/".join([
            # str(score),
            # str(move_number),
            str(special_atom),
            " ".join([str(x) for x in board])
        ])
        bot.stdin.write(to_send)
        with open(logs, 'a') as f:f.write(to_send+'\n')
        bot.stdin.close()
        all_user_input = bot.stdout.readline().strip("\n").split(" ")
        specials_call(special_atom, all_user_input)
    print("Game over! Your score is " + str(score))
if __name__ == "__main__":
    for a in range(20):
        with open(logs, 'a') as f:f.write('round '+str(a)+'-'*50+'\n')
        init()
```
## How the bot thing works:
### Input
* Your bot will get 2 inputs: the atom that is currently in play, and the state of the board.
* The atom will be like so:
	+ `+` for a `+` atom
	+ `-` for a `-` atom
	+ `B` for a Black `+` atom
	+ `C` for a Clone atom
	+ `{atom}` for a normal atom
* The state of the board will be like so:
	+ `atom 0 atom 1 atom 2... atom n`, with the atoms separated by spaces (`atom n` wraps back to `atom 1`, to simulate a "ring" gameboard)
* These two will be separated by a `/`.
Example inputs:
```
1/1 2 2 3   (the atom in play is 1, and the board is [1 2 2 3])
+/1         (the atom in play is +, and the board is [1] on its own)
```
### Output
* You will output a string, depending on what the atom in play is.
	+ If the atom is meant to be played between two atoms:
	
	
		- Output the gap you want to play the atom in. The gaps are like in between each atom, like so:
		
		
		
		```
		atom 0, GAP 0, atom 1, GAP 1, atom 2, GAP 2... atom n, GAP N
		
		```
		
		(`gap n` indicates you want to place the atom between `atom 1` and atom `n`)
		So output `2` if you want to play the atom on `gap 2`.
	+ If the atom is meant to be played on an atom:
		- Output the atom you want to play it on, so `2` if you want to play the atom on `atom 2`.
	+ If the atom is a `-`:
		- Output the atom you want to play it on, followed by a space, followed by a `y/n` choice of turning the atom into a `+` later, so `2, "y"` if you want to play the atom on `atom 2`, and you want to turn it into a `+`. **Note: this requires 2 inputs, instead of 1.**
Example outputs:
```
(Atom in play is a +)
2   (you want to play the + in gap 2 - between atom 2 and 3)
(Atom in play is a -)
3 y  (you want to play the - on atom 3, and you want to change it to a +)
2 n  (you want to play the - on atom 2, and you don't want to change it)
```
* To make the bot work, you have to go to the `Popen` bit (at around the end of the code), and replace it with whatever makes your program run as a Pythonic list (so if your program is `derp.java`, replace `["python", "bot.py"]` with `["java", "derp.java"]`).
## Answer-specific Specs:
* Place the entire code of your bot into the answer. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't count.
* Each user is allowed to have more than 1 bot, however, they should all be in separate answer posts.
* Also, give your bot a name.
## Scoring:
* The bot with the highest score wins.
	+ Your bot will be tested for 20 games, and the final score is the average of the 20 games.
* The tie-breaker will be the time of the upload of the answer.
* So your answer will be formatted like this:
```
{language}, {bot name}
Score: {score}
```
Good luck!
  
[Answer]
## Python, draftBot, Score = 889
```
import random
def h(b):
    s=0
    for x in b:
        try:
            s+=int(x)
        except: 
            s+=0
    return s
def d(i):g=i.split("/");a=g[0];b=g[1].split(" ");return(a,b)
def p(a,_,j):
    v=[]
    for x in _:
        try:
            v.append(int(x))
        except: 
            v.append(0)
    try:
        v=v[:j+1]+[int(a)]+v[j+1:]
    except: 
        v=v[:j+1]+[a]+v[j+1:]
    r1=[[]];b=[x for x in v];m=range(len(b)+1)
    for k in m:
        for i in m:
            for j in range(i):
                c = b[j:i + 1]
                if len(c)%2==0 and c==c[::-1] and 0 not in c:r1.append(c)
        b.insert(0, b.pop())
    q1=max(r1,key=len)
    r2=[[]];b=[x for x in v];m=range(len(b)+1)
    for k in m:
        for i in m:
            for j in range(i):
                c = b[j:i + 1]
                if len(c)>2 and len(c)%2==1 and c==c[::-1] and "+" in c and 0 not in c:r2.append(c)
        b.insert(0, b.pop())
    q2=max(r2,key=h)
    with open('f.log', 'a') as f:f.write('pal '+str(_)+' : '+str(q1)+' : '+str(q2)+'\n')
    if q2!=[]:return 100+h(q2)
    else:return len(q1)
i=raw_input()
(a,b)=d(i)
if a in ['C','B']:print('0')
elif a=='-':print("0 y" if random.randint(0, 1) == 1 else "0 n")
else:q,j=max((p(a,b,j),j)for j in range(len(b)));print(str(j))
```
I found that the controller:
* crashes when score exceeds 1500;
* does not properly merge atoms in same cases.
[Answer]
## Python, RandomBot, Score = 7.95
Nothing too fancy, just a random bot.
```
import random
game_input = raw_input().split("/")
current_atom = game_input[0]
board = game_input[1].split(" ")
if current_atom != "-":
    print(random.randint(0, len(board) - 1))
else:
    random_choice = " y" if random.randint(0, 1) == 1 else " n"
    print(str(random.randint(0, len(board) - 1)) + random_choice)
```
[Answer]
## Python, BadPlayer, Score = 21.45
```
import random
try:
    raw_input
except:
    raw_input = input
game_input = raw_input().split("/")
current_atom = game_input[0]
board = game_input[1].split(" ")
def get_chain(board, base):
    chain = []
    board = board[:]
    try:
        while board[base] == board[base + 1]:
            chain = [board[base]] + chain + [board[base + 1]]
            del board[base]
            del board[base]
            base -= 1
    except IndexError:
        pass
    return chain
def biggest_chain(board):
    chains = []
    base = 0
    i = 0
    while i < len(board) - 1:
        chains.append([i, get_chain(board, i)])
        i += 1
    return sorted(chains, key=lambda x: len(x[1]) / 2)[-1]
def not_in_chain():
    a, b = biggest_chain(board)
    if len(b) == 0:
        print(random.randint(0, len(board) - 1))
    elif random.randint(0, 1) == 0:
        print(random.randint(a + len(b)/2, len(board) - 1))
    else:
        try:
            print(random.randint(0, a - len(b)/2 - 1))
        except:
            print(random.randint(a + len(b)/2, len(board) - 1))
if current_atom in "+B":
    a, b = biggest_chain(board)
    if len(b) == 0:
        print(0)
    else:
        print(a)
elif current_atom == "C":
    not_in_chain()
elif current_atom == "-":
    a, b = biggest_chain(board)
    if len(b) == 0:
        print(str(random.randint(0, len(board) - 1)) + " n")
    elif random.randint(0, 1) == 0:
        print(str(random.randint(a + len(b)/2, len(board) - 1)) + " n")
    else:
        try:
            print(str(random.randint(0, a - len(b)/2 - 1)) + " n")
        except:
            print(str(random.randint(0, len(board) - 1)) + " n")
else:
    not_in_chain()
```
Just a very bad bot that often make the controller crash
]