HexWiki - User contributions [en]

Computer Hex

2025-02-06T17:40:29Z

Tom239: /* Reviewing and Editing Programs */ added link to AHex

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
|-
| [[KataHex]] || Linux, Windows || By HZY. As of 2024, the strongest available Hex program. Very strong AI, open source.
|-
| [[MoHex]] || Linux || Was the strongest available Hex program in 2010. It uses the UCT-Monte Carlo approach and is developed at the University of Alberta by Philip Henderson, Broderick Arneson and Ryan Hayward. Also has an efficient solver.
|-
| [[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.
|-
| [[Wolve]] || Linux || Gold medallist of 2008 Computer Olympiads.
|-
| [[Six]] || Linux, Unix, Windows || by Gábor Melis.
|-
| [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.
|}

=== Mac platform ===

No known programs for the Mac are available. There is a work around by using an emulator such as BlueStacks that allows Android programs to be run.

=== Unavailable programs ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Program !! Platforms !! Remarks
|-
| [[Mongoose]] || || By [[Yngvi Björnsson]], [[Ryan Hayward]], Mike Johanson, Morgan Kan, and Nathan Po.
|-
| [[Queenbee]] || || By [[Jack van Rijswijck]]. Won silver at the London 2000 CGO.
|-
| [[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. As of 26 December 2019 it is no longer available.
|-
| [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). As of 26 December 2019 it is no longer available.
|-
| [https://itunes.apple.com/app/id397349481 Hex Nash] || iPad, iPhone || Released February 2011, no AI but supports online asynchronous play and local play. As of 26 December 2019 it is no longer available.
|}

== Non playing programs ==

=== Front End ===
* [[HexGui]] is a graphical user interface designed by [[Broderick Arneson]] ("ab"). It can be used as an interactive game board to try out plays and variations, and it can also be used as a front end for any computer Hex program that can communicate via [[GTP]]. It works well as a front-end to [[MoHex]]. HexGui can read and write the [[Smart Game Format]]. An up-to-date version of HexGui is available from [https://github.com/selinger/hexgui GitHub].

=== Reviewing and Editing Programs ===

* [https://minortriad.com/ahex.html AHex] by [[User:Tom239|Tom Ace]] lets you analyze Hex and Havannah games and can import games from littlegolem.net.
* [http://canyon23.net/jgame/README_hex.html JHex] by Kevin lets you analyse a game, and databases of games.
* [http://www.drking.org.uk/hexagons/hex KHex] by David King is a tool for reviewing games. Very well suited for sharing commented games (it exports games in [[Smart Game Format]]).
* [http://www.drking.org.uk/hexagons/hex KHex18] by David King is an online app for reviewing games, which can read LittleGolem game text.

== Protocols ==

* [[GTP]] is a text-based protocol for interacting with Hex software. It is based on the Go Text Protocol, and allows Hex software to interact with Hex strategy engines.

== File formats ==

* The [[Smart Game Format]] (SGF) is a file format for storing annotated game trees. The format nor only stores a sequence of moves comprising a game, but can also contain variations (several different games played out from the same position), as well as comments on every move in the game.

== 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]]

Playsite

2009-01-07T02:01:37Z

Tom239: initial page (can anyone remember specifically when Playsite discontinued hex?)

Playsite (playsite.com) once hosted online real-time hex play in board sizes 10x10, 14x14, and 18x18. Hex attracted fewer players than other games offered on Playsite and was discontinued around 2004.

[[category:hex community]]

Tom's move

2009-01-07T01:42:50Z

Tom239:

== Introduction ==

'''Tom's move''' is a trick that enable a player to breakthrough a second [[ladder]]. Its name originates from player [[User:Tom239|Tom239]] who devised it during a game (against dj11, on 15 December 2002) on [[Playsite]]. This was not its first use ever, just how it came to be known among hex players on Playsite.

== Minimal example ==
In this diagram [[Red (player)|Red]] wants to connect to the bottom edge.

<hex>R6 C9 Q1
Va5 Va4 Vd3 Vb2 Ha6 Hb4 Hc3 Hd2 He1 Hf1 Hg1 Hh1 Hi1 Hh2 Hi2 Hi3</hex>

It looks impossible to use the single stone on the [[fourth row]] as a [[ladder escape]]. How can it be done? By using '''Tom's move''':

He [[Push (ladder)|pushes]] the ladder until he is right underneath it, and then he plays at 5.

<hex>R6 C9 Q1
Va5 Va4 Vd3 Vb2 Ha6 Hb4 Hc3 Hd2 He1 Hf1 Hg1 Hh1 Hi1 Hh2 Hi2 Hi3
N:on Vb5 Hb6 Vc5 Hc6 Vf4 +e5</hex>

Now the situation is completely identical to that in the [[Tips_and_tricks#Double_ladder_on_2nd_line_escape|Double ladder on 2nd line Escape]]. Blue's natural [[defense]] is to play at (+).

<hex>R6 C9 Q1
Va5 Va4 Vd3 Vb2 Ha6 Hb4 Hc3 Hd2 He1 Hf1 Hg1 Hh1 Hi1 Hh2 Hi2 Hi3
Vb5 Hb6 Vc5 Hc6 Vf4 Sd5 Sf2
N:on He5 Vg3</hex>

Now Red´s two pieces at g6 and h5 are [[Connection|connected]] to the [[bottom edge]] via [[edge template IV2b]], and his [[ladder]] can connect to those [[piece]]s in [[Multiple threats|two different ways]], by playing in either of the starred [[Hex (board element)|cells]]. Red is therefore safely connected to the bottom edge.

[[category:ladder]]
[[category:Advanced Strategy]]

File:Tom239dj11.png

2009-01-06T21:33:10Z

Tom239: Screen capture of moves and game board from December 15, 2002.

Screen capture of moves and game board from December 15, 2002.

User:Tom239

2009-01-06T21:22:23Z

Tom239:

[http://www.minortriad.com Tom Ace]

I've played hex as Tom239 on playsite.com and littlegolem.net .

User:Tom239

2009-01-06T21:20:19Z

Tom239: identifying myself, with link to my personal web site

[http://www.minortriad.com Tom Ace]

HexWiki:About

2006-03-04T00:14:42Z

Tom239: removed advertising spam

HexWiki is a community initiative aimed at creating a central knowledge-base on the game [[Hex]]. The idea came about during discussions in the [http://www.littlegolem.net/jsp/forum/forum.jsp?forum=50 Hex forum] on [[Little Golem]].

HexWiki formerly ran on [[QwikiWiki]], but now uses the [[MediaWiki]] engine, known for serving, among other sites, [http://wikipedia.org Wikipedia].