Difference between revisions of "Computer Hex"

From HexWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (made the extrnal link be an inner link for Six.)
m (Reviewing and Editing Programs)
(27 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
This article enumerates diverse ways to exploit Hex with a computer.
+
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 ==
 
== Programs with AI ==
  
There are several computer programs available which play Hex.
+
There are several computer programs which play Hex.
  
* The currently strongest Hex program is [[Six]] by Gábor Melis, running on [[Wikipedia:Linux|Linux]] or [[Wikipedia:Unix|Unix]].
+
=== Available programs ===
* The second strongest program available is [http://home.earthlink.net/~vanshel/ Hexy] by Vadim Anshelevich, running on [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]]. This site also has an interesting paper on aspects of the algorithm used.
+
* [http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~queenbee/ Queenbee] by Jack van Rijswijck.
+
* Mongoose by Yngvi Björnsson, Ryan Hayward, Mike Johanson, Morgan Kan, and Nathan Po.
+
  
The [http://www.cs.unimaas.nl/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. For example, Six won the gold medal of the 8th Computer Olympiad in [[Wikipedia:Graz|Graz]], while Hexy won the gold medal of the 5th Computer Olympiad in [[Wikipedia:London|London]], which appears to be the first computer Hex tournament ever held.
+
{| 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.
 +
|}
  
== Reviewing and Editing Programs ==
+
=== 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://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]]!)
+
* [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.
 +
 
 +
== 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 ==
 
== See also ==
 
[[History of computer Hex]]
 
[[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]]

Revision as of 23:00, 5 January 2019

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

Programs with AI

There are several computer programs which play Hex.

Available programs

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 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.
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).
Hex Nash iPad, iPhone Released February 2011, no AI but supports online asynchronous play and local play.
Hexilla Java By Jonatan Rydh, released in October 2009.
Hex Android By Five Factorial, released in January 2017. It uses MoHex engine on Expert level.

Unavailable programs

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 page (broken link).

Reviewing and Editing Programs

  • JHex by Kevin lets you analyse a game, and databases of games.
  • KHex by David King is a tool for reviewing games. Very well suited for sharing commented games (it exports games in Smart Game Format).
  • KHex18 by David King is an online app for reviewing games, which can read LittleGolem game text.

External link

Articles

See also

History of computer Hex

The International Computer Games Association also has some information on Hex. They organize an annual Computer Olympiad, which also covers Hex.