hex
Hex is a modern classic. This 2-player abstract strategy game was invented by Piet Hein in 1942 and popularized by John Nash and Martin Gardner. With its simple rules and deep strategic elements, Hex is an interesting and stimulating game that is enjoyed by a growing community of players.
LB_NUMBER_OF_PLAYERS: 2
Game duration: 6 mn
Complexity: 1 / 5
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Play hex and 837 other games online.
No download, directly from your web browser.
With your friends and thousands of players from the whole world.
Free.
Rules summary
INTRODUCTION
The Hex game is a connection game independently invented by two mathematicians, Piet Hein and John Nash, respectively in 1942 and 1947. The interest of the game mainly lies on the contrast between the simplicity of its rules and the potential complexity of its strategy. Another interesting aspect is that the game can't end in a tie.
GOAL
The goal for each player is to create a connected path of his tokens linking his two opposite sides of the board (of his color).
OPENING
The first player places a first token on any cell of the board. The second player has then the choice between:
- continue playing his current color (and thus place a second token anywhere on the board);
- or decide to switch colors and keep the first move for him. In this case the first player places another token with his new color.
TURNS
After the first two moves (see OPENING), each player plays a token of his color on his turn. A token can be placed on any free cell of the board.
GAME ENDS
The game ends when one of the players has built a complete path with his tokens between his two sides of the board. The game can't end in a tie.
VARIANTS
The game can be played on several different board sizes. The 6x6 board is designed to help beginners to understand the basic rules and discover simple game patterns. The 11x11 board is a more classic size. The 14x14 board is the one recommended by John Nash, one of the game inventor, and the 15x15 allowed longer plays.
