Computer Hex

2017-11-07T01:31:17Z

Five.factorial:

This page lists some software programs and programming topics that may be of interest to [[Hex]] players. The programs include AI opponents and tools for analysing completed games.

More complete or up-to-date information is welcome.

== AI techniques used in Hex ==

*[[Minimax (computer)|Minimax]] and alpha-beta search were used by [[Queenbee]].
*[[UCT]] is used in MoHex.

== Programs with AI ==

There are several computer programs which play Hex.

=== Available programs ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Program !! Platforms !! Remarks
|-
| [[MoHex]] || Linux || As of 2010, the strongest available Hex program. It uses the UCT-Monte Carlo approach and is developed at the University of Alberta by Philip Henderson, Broderick Arneson and Ryan Hayward.
|-
| [[Wolve]] || Linux || Gold medallist of 2008 Computer Olympiads.
|-
| [[Six]] || Linux, Unix, Windows || by Gábor Melis.
|-
| [[Hexy]] || Windows || The second strongest program available. It was the first program to use virtual connections and was champion of the 5th Computer Olympiad in 2000.
|-
| [[Hexy (iPhone)|Hexy]] || iPhone || Despite using the same name, this program has no relation to [[Hexy]]. It was released in November 2008, offers an AI opponent; the AI appears to be a custom design and hasn't been rated.
|-
| [https://itunes.apple.com/app/id423845369 Hexatious] || iPad, iPhone || Released in August 2009, appears to offer a stronger AI than the iPhone Hexy app (in particular, Hexatious easily beats the other iPhone app in head-to-head competition).
|-
| [https://itunes.apple.com/app/id397349481 Hex Nash] || iPad, iPhone || Released February 2011, no AI but supports online asynchronous play and local play.
|-
| [http://www.mattesmedjan.se/hexilla/ Hexilla] || Java || By Jonatan Rydh, released in October 2009.
|-
| [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.game.hex Hex] || Android || By Five Factorial, released in January 2017. It uses MoHex engine on Expert level.
|}

=== Unavailable programs ===

* Mongoose by [[Yngvi Björnsson]], [[Ryan Hayward]], Mike Johanson, Morgan Kan, and Nathan Po.
* Queenbee by [[Jack van Rijswijck]] finished second that year.

== Non playing programs ==

=== Front End ===
* [[HexGui]] is a graphical user interface designed by "ab", mostly used as a front end to play against Six. It is possible however to play against other programs that can communicate via [[GTP]]. It can be downloaded on "ab"'s web [http://mgame99.mg.funpic.de/havannah.php page] (broken link).

=== Reviewing and Editing Programs ===

* [http://canyon23.net/jgame/README_hex.html JHex] by Kevin lets you analyse a game, and databases of games.
* [http://www.drking.plus.com/hexagons/hex/khex.html KHex] by David King is a tool for reviewing games. Very well suited for sharing commented games (it exports games in [[Smart Game Format]]!)

== External link==

=== Articles ===

*Anshelevich, Vadim V. [http://home.earthlink.net/~vanshel/VAnshelevich-ARTINT.pdf A hierarchical approach to computer Hex].
*van Rijswijck, Jack. [http://home.fuse.net/swmeyers/y-hex.pdf Search and evaluation in Hex].
*Rasmussen, Rune K. and Maire, Frederic D. and Hayward, Ross F. (2006) [http://eprints.qut.edu.au/5121/1/5121_1.pdf A Move Generating Algorithm for Hex Solvers].
*Rasmussen, Rune K. (2008) [http://eprints.qut.edu.au/18616/1/01Thesis.pdf Algorithmic approaches for playing and solving Shannon games] (PhD Thesis).

== See also ==
[[History of computer Hex]]

The [[ICGA|International Computer Games Association]] also has some [http://www.cs.unimaas.nl/icga/games/hex/ information on Hex]. They organize an annual [[Computer Olympiad]], which also covers Hex.

[[category:Computer Hex]]

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Computer Hex