Difference between revisions of "Rules"

From HexWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Added category)
(Copy-editing, with the help of ChatGPT)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
The [[Board|Hex board]] is composed of [[hexagon]]s, arranged in an ''n×n'' [[Wikipedia:Rhombus|rhombus]], where ''n'' is an integer greater than zero. Thus Hex can be played on boards of different sizes. Currently, 11×11, 13×13 and 19×19 are the most common [[Board size|board sizes]]. The four [[Edge|edges]] of the board are colored with two colors, in such a way that parallel edges have the same color. The board is empty at the start of the game. On the left you can see an empty Hex board.
+
The [[Board|Hex board]] is composed of [[hexagon]]s arranged in an ''n'' × ''n'' [[Wikipedia:Rhombus|rhombus]], where ''n'' is an integer greater than zero. This allows for Hex to be played on boards of various [[Board size|sizes]], with the most common being 11 × 11, 13 × 13, and 19 × 19. The [[edge]]s of the board are colored with two colors, with parallel edges having the same color. The board is empty at the start of the game. On the left you can see an empty Hex board.
  
 
<hexboard size="5x5" float="left" />  
 
<hexboard size="5x5" float="left" />  
  
Hex is played by two players, who take turns in placing a single piece on the board. One player will place the red pieces and the other will place the blue pieces. The player placing the red pieces wins if she builds a solid chain between the two red edges, and the player placing blue pieces wins if he builds such a chain between the blue edges. On the right you see an example of a win by the player who placed the red stones.
+
Hex is played by two [[player]]s, who take turns placing a single stone on the board. One player uses red stones and the other uses blue stones. The objective of the game is for a player to build a solid chain between their designated edges (red for one player and blue for the other). The game is guaranteed to end with a winner as it is impossible for one player to surround one edge of the opponent without connecting their own two edges. On the right you see an example of a win by the player who placed the red stones.
  
 
<hexboard size="5x5" float="right" contents="R d1 B e1 R c2 B d2 R c3 B d3 R c4 R d4 B b5 B c5 R d5" />
 
<hexboard size="5x5" float="right" contents="R d1 B e1 R c2 B d2 R c3 B d3 R c4 R d4 B b5 B c5 R d5" />
  
The above rules give a strong advantage to the [[first player]]. Because of this, the [[swap rule]] was introduced. The swap rule is also called the "pie rule", since it resembles the "You cut, I choose rule" when sharing a pie between two children.
+
To balance the game, the "[[swap rule]]" or "pie rule" is used at the start of the game. The first player places a red stone on the board, and then the second player chooses which player will use the red stones and which will use the blue stones. This ensures that the first player does not have a significant advantage.
  
Suppose that at the start of the game the first player has the red pieces. Then she places a red piece on the board, in any cell she likes. After that, the second player decides who will play as red and who will play as blue. Then whoever was decided to be blue makes the next move, and the game continues normally.
+
Overall, the strategy of the game is to connect one's designated edges while preventing the opponent from doing the same. Detailed strategies can be found on the [[strategy]] page.
 
+
The game is guaranteed to end with a winner because it is impossible for one player to surround one edge of the opponent without connecting his own two edges. It's also trivial to see that having the right to move is always advantageous. The [[Strategy|strategy]] page explains how to play for the win in practice.
+
  
 
[[Category: Definition]]
 
[[Category: Definition]]
 
[[Category: Rules and Conventions]]
 
[[Category: Rules and Conventions]]

Latest revision as of 14:01, 20 January 2023

The Hex board is composed of hexagons arranged in an n × n rhombus, where n is an integer greater than zero. This allows for Hex to be played on boards of various sizes, with the most common being 11 × 11, 13 × 13, and 19 × 19. The edges of the board are colored with two colors, with parallel edges having the same color. The board is empty at the start of the game. On the left you can see an empty Hex board.

abcde12345

Hex is played by two players, who take turns placing a single stone on the board. One player uses red stones and the other uses blue stones. The objective of the game is for a player to build a solid chain between their designated edges (red for one player and blue for the other). The game is guaranteed to end with a winner as it is impossible for one player to surround one edge of the opponent without connecting their own two edges. On the right you see an example of a win by the player who placed the red stones.

abcde12345

To balance the game, the "swap rule" or "pie rule" is used at the start of the game. The first player places a red stone on the board, and then the second player chooses which player will use the red stones and which will use the blue stones. This ensures that the first player does not have a significant advantage.

Overall, the strategy of the game is to connect one's designated edges while preventing the opponent from doing the same. Detailed strategies can be found on the strategy page.