V vs. H game 1
From HexWiki
Game information
- Size: 11x11
- Result: 1-0 (Red won)
- Comments: David Boll
- Note : the swap rule is not used here
The following is an annotated transcript of a hex game. Follow along with this on a board, and you could learn all kinds of stuff. The players are H and V, V moves first. H is a bit weak in the opening, but the mid game is wide open after a questionable move by V. V ends up preserving the win by carefully maintaining the winning line throughout some tricky positions.
1. | f6 | The center hex, the strongest opening move for V. | |
... | f5 | H chooses a weaker line of defense, g3 is usual. |
2. | h4 | V presses the attack on the north edge. | |
... | i1 | H plays the "classic" defensive move. Note that g5 may look tempting here, but H is in trouble after h5. | |
3. | e4 | V shifts focus to the right side, threatening, but not establishing, a link to the north. | |
... | e3 | H's piece at i1 allows this defense, but f1 might have been better. | |
4. | g2 | g3 | H can stop V's connection to e4 or h4, but not both! |
5. | i3 | V is now connected from the north. j2 or h2 both get the link, and H can't stop both. | |
... | e9 | H shifts sides and tries to play defense on the south. | |
6. | h7 | Nice, aggressive, offensive and defensive move. | |
... | g10 | H's game is all defense at this point. |
7. | i9 | V connects to the south, choosing to fight for the link in the middle rather than along the edge. | |
... | j2 | H's first sign of life on offense. H threatens h2 or i2, which links H from the right out to f5... | |
8. | h2 | But, V shuts the door on that! | |
... | h6 | This piece is linked to the right, even though it's not the usual 4th row template, thanks to the H piece at h2, | |
9. | j5 | i4 | V tries to block, and H saves the link. |
10. | g7? | Not a terrible move, but d9 was probably better. V links up in the center with this move. | |
... | g6! | If V responds with a knee-jerk f7 to save the link, H looks pretty good after g5. |
11. | d6! | A nice reply to H's strong move. V de-fuses f5, and extends from e4, which could end up being connected to the north. | |
... | g5 | H makes the link anyway. Perhaps H would have been better off moving on the south side here. | |
12. | f3 | V keeps the sure thing to the north. | |
.. | f7 | H is now connected from the right out to f7/e9. | |
13. | c9 | Once again, V gets a link and plans to fight for connection in the middle. | |
... | d5! | A very sneaky threat. If V plays a knee-jerk e5, H plays d9, and forces V to choose which side of c9 to play defense on. If north, H attacks south at b11, with some north ladder help at d5, and east ladder help at g10. If south, c8 wins for H. | |
14. | c6! | But V sees right through all that! This move strengthens ties to c9, and allows V to stop H even if H makes the e5 link. | |
... | g1 | H tries to throw some doubt in V's ability to stop H from connecting from d4 to the left. | |
15. | f2 | f1 | V forces two ladder steps, which restores ability to stop |
16. | e2 | e1 | H after H's threat of e5. |
17. | h1 | Now this is safe for V. | |
... | c8 | H's last gasp at a win. Inexact play by V could lead to a ladder east then north to H's link to the east edge. | |
18. | e7 | The only win-preserving move in the area. | |
... | d8 | Forced. | |
19. | e8 | Resign | Threatens to connect at d9 or f8; H has run out of tricks. H resigns. |
Source : mazework