Group

In the game of Hex, a group is a set of interconnected stones that are owned by the same player. These stones are virtually connected, meaning that they cannot be disconnected by the opponent unless the player allows it.

Groups often rely on specific empty cells to maintain their connection, and when an opponent plays in one of these cells it is called an intrusion. The owner of the group must then make another move to restore the connection between their stones.

Chains and templates are common examples of groups and a group can often consist of one or more chains connected by templates and double threats. An important aspect of playing Hex is understanding how to create and maintain groups while also identifying ways to break or infiltrate the opponent's groups.

The "group" terminology is often used to say things like "Red's central group is connected to the upper edge", or "Blue's two groups are not yet connected to each other".

Examples of templates that can be used to form groups include the bridge, box, trapezoid and wheel.