Hex (the game) 101

[CrystyB]

Okay, this game doesn't seem to generate many posts, and i wonder if it's because people think it's too difficult to master...

Disclaimer: i have never mastered the game. I have been and would still be harshly beaten by computer programs.

Basics of the game: http://www.mazeworks.com/hex7/about/basics1.htm

• Playing the game on the GL board
  Tags are available here. Documented here (and here, for the static board generator).
  
  
• First move
  It should go (ttbomk) on the shorter diagonal (a[N]-[x]1), as close to the middle as possible:

  a   b   c   d   1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4           a   b   c   d

  i was initially using two green stones
  
  
• Connecting
  The best way to "travel" over large distances is the diamond-shaped move:

  a   b   c   d   e   1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5             a   b   c   d   e

  (hex][boardsize "5"] c2{} c3 d2{} d1 [/hex]
  Note that wherever would red try to block, green will have the other blue square to connect.
  There are six directions for the "diamonds": one straight and two obliques for each of the two ways the player needs to connect to.
  
  
• Defending
  I'm not going to claim that there is some move that will always work, but here are the guidelines i follow when playing "the D":
  1. If the attacker doesn't have enough space to go around, go for the hex that would complete the diamond:

  a   b   c   d   e   f   g   1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7                 a   b   c   d   e   f   g

  (hex][boardsize "7"] e2+f2{e3} e3{d5!} d5{} c4+a5+f4+g5{} [/hex]
  I use blue stones to mark the hexes on the path trying to go around (obliquely). In this case, neither branch would connect to the lower side. (The "x"s mark the fact that i am not talking here about connecting to the upper side.)
  2. If the attacker has enough space to go around on one side, block one space away from the diamond-completing hex, on that side:

  a   b   c   d   e   f   g   1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7                 a   b   c   d   e   f   g

  (hex][boardsize "7"] d3+e3{d4} d4{c7!} c7{} c6+b5+e5+f6+g7{} [/hex]
  Again, i use blue stones to mark the hexes on the path trying to go around (obliquely). In this case, one of the two branches would connect to the lower side. (The "x"s mark the fact that i am not talking here about connecting to the upper side.)
  3. If the attacker has enough space to go around on both sides, there's not much you can do, since you can't prevent two disjoint alternatives. Sorry.
  
  
• Other resources
  Tactics: http://www.drking.plus.com/hexagons/hex/templates.html
  various: http://boardgames.about.com/od/hex/
  Oops, i almost forgot the "awesome proof that a draw in a game of Hex is impossible" (tnx mathgrant): http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~javhar/hex/hex-galeproof.html

Now, i'd gladly answer any questions posted in here, just don't expect that my answer would be the best way to a win.

[CrystyB]

Knowledge gained from the game against Jeep: don't defend in the extreme end of the shorter diagonal (a[N], or [x]1):

[MatthewV]

I didn't fully follow your examples and I know a decent amount about this game. Were you placing extra pieces to show the different possiblilities of moves?

There was once a computer that could beat any player, even the human went first. But the board was cleverly designed such that the sides the computer was connecting was one cell shorter than the human side. All the computer had to do was mirror the human's moves and fill in the gap at the end. :)

[CrystyB]

Heh. Yes, i had indeed placed extra stones to show possibilities. The actual moves where shown on the right of the boards.

But you've made me look at the available options, and i found there's a blue one too! Thanks.