Difference between revisions of "Wall"

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A '''wall''' is a [[group]] of [[piece]]s forming a straight line inside the [[board]]. Walls are strategically strong because they can serve as edges within the board, allowing [[edge template]]s to be played with the walls as support.
 
A '''wall''' is a [[group]] of [[piece]]s forming a straight line inside the [[board]]. Walls are strategically strong because they can serve as edges within the board, allowing [[edge template]]s to be played with the walls as support.
  
A popular way to create a wall is to [[ladder]] in the "wrong direction". The example below shows the lower part of a board:
+
A common way to create a wall is to [[ladder]] in the "wrong direction". Consider this example:
 
+
 
<hexboard size="5x10"
 
<hexboard size="5x10"
 
   coords="none"
 
   coords="none"
 
   edges="bottom"
 
   edges="bottom"
   contents="R e2 c4 B f2 d4"
+
   contents="R A:e2 c4 B d2 f2 d4 E x:d3 y:e3"
 
   />
 
   />
  
While [[Red (player)|Red]] could easily connect to the [[bottom edge]] by means of her leftmost red piece, instead she ladders to the right, giving the following position:
+
While [[Red (player)|Red]] could easily connect A to the bottom [[edge]] by playing at x.. Instead, she plays at y and ladders to the right, giving the following position:
  
 
<hexboard size="5x10"
 
<hexboard size="5x10"
 
   coords="none"
 
   coords="none"
 
   edges="bottom"
 
   edges="bottom"
   contents="R e2 c4 B f2 d4 R 1:e3 B 2:e4 R 3:f3 B 4:f4 R 5:g3 B 6:g4 R 7:h3 B 8:h4 R 9:i3 B 10:i4"
+
   contents="R A:e2 c4 B d2 f2 d4 E x:d3 R 1:e3 B 2:e4 R 3:f3 B 4:f4 R 5:g3 B 6:g4 R 7:h3 B 8:h4 R 9:i3 B 10:i4"
 
   />
 
   />
  
''Now'' Red connects the pieces to the left. The newly created wall can come in handy as play goes on near the top of the board (not shown here).
+
''Now'' Red plays at x to connect the wall to the edge. The newly created wall can come in handy as play goes on near the top of the board (not shown here).
  
 
Note that this illustrates suboptimal play by [[Blue (player)|Blue]]. Since Red already has a connection to the bottom, Blue should not play the ladder allowing Red to set up a wall.
 
Note that this illustrates suboptimal play by [[Blue (player)|Blue]]. Since Red already has a connection to the bottom, Blue should not play the ladder allowing Red to set up a wall.

Revision as of 22:31, 19 May 2022

A wall is a group of pieces forming a straight line inside the board. Walls are strategically strong because they can serve as edges within the board, allowing edge templates to be played with the walls as support.

A common way to create a wall is to ladder in the "wrong direction". Consider this example:

Axy

While Red could easily connect A to the bottom edge by playing at x.. Instead, she plays at y and ladders to the right, giving the following position:

Ax13579246810

Now Red plays at x to connect the wall to the edge. The newly created wall can come in handy as play goes on near the top of the board (not shown here).

Note that this illustrates suboptimal play by Blue. Since Red already has a connection to the bottom, Blue should not play the ladder allowing Red to set up a wall.

A wall can contain one-cell holes without affecting its function, as long as the whole wall is a single group. The holes may be empty or occupied by the opponent.

See also

Rope