Hex

And out next game is... A simple game, yet of surprising mathematical subtlety. Complete your chain before computer does.

Hex is played on a diamond-shaped board made up of hexagons. The number of hexagons may vary, but the board usually has 11 on each edge. Two top and bottom opposite sides of the diamond are labeled red, while the hexagons at the left side and right side are green.

One player plays with green pieces while other with red. The players alternatively place one of their pieces on any one of the hexagons, provided the cell is not already occupied by another piece.

The objective of the Hex game is to complete an unbroken chain of green pieces between the left side and the right side. While red tries to complete a similar chain of red pieces between the top side and the bottom side.

The chain may freely twist and turn. The players continue placing their pieces until one of them has made a complete chain.

The game cannot end in a draw, because one player can block the other only by completing its own chain. These rules are simple, yet HEX is a game of surprising mathematical subtlety.

In this computer game, computer always plays red. Green usually starts first unless overridden. Left-click in a cell to place a green place. If you wish computer to start first, right-click on any cell on the board.