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The Hex game is nice, but I don't see how the second player ever loses (swap rule). Isn't this a solved game that, given optimal strategy, is either won or los
by RuggeroAltair 13y ago
The Hex game is nice, but I don't see how the second player ever loses (swap rule).
Isn't this a solved game that, given optimal strategy, is either won or lost based on the where the first tile is placed?
- graue 13y agoNo. Usually experienced players will begin in a cell like a2, b1 or b2, cells near to the top left corner — these are considered fairly neutral opening moves. I wish I could link you to the Hex Wiki (hexwiki.org), where players much more advanced than I have written about Hex strategy. But it's been down with a message about database problems for months. Here's a link to their page on openings, via the Wayback Machine: http://web.archive.org/web/20110806113426/http://www.hexwiki.org/index.php?title=Opening http://web.archive.org/web/20110806113426/http://www.hexwiki... Edit: You may also wish to read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hex_%28board_game%29#Theory_and_proofs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hex_%28board_game%29#Theory_an...
- mikeash 13y agoIn theory, perfectly played Go is always won by either the first or second player, presumably depending on handicap. That doesn't stop Go from being interesting, because we're not even remotely close to knowing how to play it perfectly.