Alternator is an abstract strategy game played on a checkerboard. Each turn consists of "drawing" a "cherry", i.e. putting a "pit" on any empty square and connecting it with a "root" to an adjacent empty square. Connected "cherries" form "trees". A "tree" belongs to the player who owns the "root" square. The winner is the player whose "trees" cover most of the squares by the end of the game.