DISCUSSIONS on “Rules for online games in HoMM3 and formulas for calculating player rating.”

It turns out that there's a reason this question keeps coming up. "Defined" can mean (a defined multiple) or (defined between two zones). A couple of clarifying words would be enough.

The question arises only due to a misunderstanding of the semantics of the word defined :) even in its general sense. In this case, the adjective only strengthens the meaning of the word "passage," making it more specific. It's just that there's an attempt to incorrectly broaden (or misunderstand?) the word passage and to attribute the main semantic load of the phrase to the adjective. It would be easier to simply remove the word "defined" from the definition and give a definition of "passage" (a free area of space - from here to there, and no more!) separately for those who are interested.
A "red rush" rule, of course, wouldn't hurt, but only on those maps where it actually has an effect (see, balance, ..., and generally at the discretion of the organizers). This could be relevant on all small maps and apply only to the main city of the blue faction. But how does red know where the opponent's main city is? (ask the opponent?) If we relate the red rush to the starting city, there are cases where it is far from being the main city. And the main city could even be one's own lost city in some cases. And the maximum impact of the red rush can be in the second or third week (although there can also be later cases when opponents have destroyed each other's armies). In the end, yes, the rule is established to build some kind of strategy. And it can be different in different tournaments. We simply choose what suits us best.