Jonathan Rydh's strategy guide - Revision history

Selinger: Copy-editing, mostly for English, and updated the terminology a bit

2021-09-11T20:29:55Z

Copy-editing, mostly for English, and updated the terminology a bit

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Selinger: Added category

2020-12-28T20:57:39Z

Added category

Selinger: /* The weak block */ fixed a typo

2020-03-03T02:44:43Z

‎The weak block: fixed a typo

Pgadey: /* The two basic moves */

2015-08-28T02:30:57Z

‎The two basic moves

Pgadey: /* Introduction */

2015-08-28T02:27:33Z

‎Introduction

127.6.128.1: /* The weak block */

2015-08-22T21:22:27Z

‎The weak block

127.6.128.1 at 20:50, 22 August 2015

2015-08-22T20:50:34Z

127.6.128.1 at 20:45, 22 August 2015

2015-08-22T20:45:25Z

127.6.128.1 at 20:41, 22 August 2015

2015-08-22T20:41:38Z

Scrampy: /* The four basic connections */

2015-08-22T20:34:46Z

‎The four basic connections

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:57, 28 December 2020
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	In both strong and weak blocks its important to remember to place the stones, if possible, at the edge of the connecting area to get as much ground as possible backwards and sideways. The only exception from this rule is if you have enough ground already and is sitting on a winning position. In that case care should instead be taken to minimize opponent's gain of land from your moves so that he doesn't trick you into a trap like a double block. Also beware of the false weak block that doesn't really threat your strong connection but which fools you to place another stone there in vain. If you are playing in a game you are losing you could of course play such a false weak block yourself and hope for the best.		In both strong and weak blocks its important to remember to place the stones, if possible, at the edge of the connecting area to get as much ground as possible backwards and sideways. The only exception from this rule is if you have enough ground already and is sitting on a winning position. In that case care should instead be taken to minimize opponent's gain of land from your moves so that he doesn't trick you into a trap like a double block. Also beware of the false weak block that doesn't really threat your strong connection but which fools you to place another stone there in vain. If you are playing in a game you are losing you could of course play such a false weak block yourself and hope for the best.
		+
		+	[[category: Strategy]]

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 == The weak block ==
-In areas the opponent has a strong connection to an edge with a group you can only make weak blocks. These should me made very carefully. The goal of the weak block is not to break his connection (since it's impossible) but to steal ground by forcing him to reconnect. Typically you first estimate which hexes he needs to connect the group, and then place a stone at the perimeter of this so called connecting area. Templates makes this process a lot faster for smaller areas. It is almost always a mistake to place a stone in the middle of a connecting area. The opponent will create a new strong connection and will at the same time gaining ground at the other direction.
+In areas the opponent has a strong connection to an edge with a group you can only make weak blocks. These should be made very carefully. The goal of the weak block is not to break his connection (since it's impossible) but to steal ground by forcing him to reconnect. Typically you first estimate which hexes he needs to connect the group, and then place a stone at the perimeter of this so called connecting area. Templates makes this process a lot faster for smaller areas. It is almost always a mistake to place a stone in the middle of a connecting area. The opponent will create a new strong connection and will at the same time gaining ground at the other direction.
 Here is an example. Red is strongly connected between 1 and the top edge. If blue were to make a weak block in this area red can reconnect so it may seem like there is no use of such a move. However only a weak block in the perimeter of this area will win. Can you see it?

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 There are two basic moves in Hex, the strong block and the weak block.Yes that's right, every move can be considered a block. The strong one blocks the opponent so that he cannot connect at all to one edge with a group of stones. After a strong block, the opponent has to use another group to connect to that edge, or break the strong connection twice to get through. The weak block blocks the opponent so that he has to place another stone in that area to reconnect that group to that edge. In terms of connections a strong block creates a strong connection from a weak, and a weak block creates a weak connection from a potential. An alternative term for strong and weak blocks could therefore be strong and weak linking depending on which way you see it.
-Strong and weak blocks are very different in nature. A weak block usually maintain your initiative, and is therefore better to play despite its name. If you have the option, play a weak block, but it can be very difficult to find a good weak block and at other times you are forced to play a strong one. Which to play, and how to play it is all what hex is about. Some would add also when and it's true that timing is an essential factor but it is important to realize that it is better to make a good move at the wrong time than making a bad move at the right.
+Strong and weak blocks are very different in nature. A weak block usually maintain your initiative, and is therefore better to play despite its name. If you have the option, play a weak block, but it can be very difficult to find a good weak block and at other times you are forced to play a strong one. Which to play, and how to play it is all what Hex is about. Some would add also when and it's true that timing is an essential factor but it is important to realize that it is better to make a good move at the wrong time than making a bad move at the right.
 == The weak block ==

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 This document consider some basic advanced hex strategy. It does not consider the basics such as the rules, two-connections, templates, ladders, ladder escapes, walls etc. If you want to learn more about those topics I suggest you check out some of my links. I also have a page with useful templates. I do not claim that the strategy discussed below are the only way to play or that it even is a good strategy, but merely one way of thinking of Hex. If you have any suggestions, critics, questions, or find any bad spelling on this page please let me know.
-Some terminology: Stones are what we places on empty hexes. The goal is to connect the two edges with each other. Group of stones or chains is stones that is solid connected (se below). Groups, stones and edges are all various kinds of nodes. Two nodes are connected with some kind of connection if there exists a path from one to another.
+Some terminology: Stones are what we places on empty hexes. The goal is to connect the two edges with each other. Group of stones or chains are stones that are solid connected (see below). Groups, stones and edges are all various kinds of nodes. Two nodes are connected with some kind of connection if there exists a path from one to another.
 == The four basic connections ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:22, 22 August 2015
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	In areas the opponent has a strong connection to an edge with a group you can only make weak blocks. These should me made very carefully. The goal of the weak block is not to break his connection (since it's impossible) but to steal ground by forcing him to reconnect. Typically you first estimate which hexes he needs to connect the group, and then place a stone at the perimeter of this so called connecting area. Templates makes this process a lot faster for smaller areas. It is almost always a mistake to place a stone in the middle of a connecting area. The opponent will create a new strong connection and will at the same time gaining ground at the other direction.		In areas the opponent has a strong connection to an edge with a group you can only make weak blocks. These should me made very carefully. The goal of the weak block is not to break his connection (since it's impossible) but to steal ground by forcing him to reconnect. Typically you first estimate which hexes he needs to connect the group, and then place a stone at the perimeter of this so called connecting area. Templates makes this process a lot faster for smaller areas. It is almost always a mistake to place a stone in the middle of a connecting area. The opponent will create a new strong connection and will at the same time gaining ground at the other direction.
		+
		+	Here is an example. Red is strongly connected between 1 and the top edge. If blue were to make a weak block in this area red can reconnect so it may seem like there is no use of such a move. However only a weak block in the perimeter of this area will win. Can you see it?
		+
		+	<hexboard size="7x7"
		+	coords="hide"
		+	contents="E :d1 E :e1 E :f1 E :g1 R b2 E :d2 E :e2 E :f2 B g2 B b3 E :d3 R 1:e3 R c4 B d4 R e4 R a5 B b5 B c5 R a6"
		+	/>

	Placing a stone outside the connecting area, thinking it is a weak block, is usually catastrophic. It's often the worst move you could have made and most often leads to a direct loss. The line between a good weak block and a worthless move is usually very thin, and is one of the great challenges of Hex. Sometime you can make a chance with a weak block you think may be worthless and hope that the opponent reply on the block. This way you may gain some extra ground to win a game that otherwise would be lost. The psychology plays a great role here. Inexperienced players feel a need to be certain that they at least are connected to one side. If they are not 100% certain there is a chance they will reconnect a strong connection that already is strong. This is as bad as placing a stone outside the connecting area.		Placing a stone outside the connecting area, thinking it is a weak block, is usually catastrophic. It's often the worst move you could have made and most often leads to a direct loss. The line between a good weak block and a worthless move is usually very thin, and is one of the great challenges of Hex. Sometime you can make a chance with a weak block you think may be worthless and hope that the opponent reply on the block. This way you may gain some extra ground to win a game that otherwise would be lost. The psychology plays a great role here. Inexperienced players feel a need to be certain that they at least are connected to one side. If they are not 100% certain there is a chance they will reconnect a strong connection that already is strong. This is as bad as placing a stone outside the connecting area.

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
     />
-Another example of a strong connection. Blue needs the area marked by stars to reconnect.
+Another example of a strong connection. Blue needs the area marked by stars to connect.
 <hexboard size="6x6"

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 * A potential connection is the connection across a strong connection of the opponent. It is a connection that will be weak if you place a stone in it. To make it strong you need to place two stones in this area.
-<hexboard size="4x4"
+<hexboard size="6x6"
     coords="hide"
-    contents="R c1 R c2 B 1:a3 B 2:d3 R c4"
+    contents="R d1 R d2 B a3 B 1:b3 E *:c3 E *:d3 B 2:e3 B f3 E *:b4 E *:c4 R d4 R b5 R c5 R c6"
     />

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
     coords="hide"
     contents="R c1 B 2:d2 B a3 B 1:b3 R b4"
     />

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:34, 22 August 2015
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−	* A strong connection cannot be broken if the opponent doesn't allow it. Every move you make he can counter so that he maintains his strong connection. A strong connection is almost solid but in some cases it is better to let the opponent break it than to defend it as ~~you will see below~~.	+	* A strong connection cannot be broken if the opponent doesn't allow it. Every move you make he can counter so that he maintains his strong connection. A strong connection is almost solid but in some cases it is better to let the opponent break it than to defend it as described in later sections.

	<hexboard size="4x4"		<hexboard size="4x4"