Corner template
In Y, players have to link the three sides, and a corner links 2 edges. Similarly to edge templates in Hex there are Corner Templates in Y.
Red is trying to link right and bottom edges through a corner template.
Contents
Corner template II II
Corner template II III
Corner template III III
This one is based on the ziggurat.
(Suggestion: Delete this template. Red cannot connect to the third side without interfering with the template.)
Another one
(Suggestion: Delete this template also. Without interfering with the template, Red can only be connected to the third side through d3. If d3 is red then we can also connect to the two sides with e3 or e4 instead of d4, both requiring a smaller template than d4 does.)
Because of the threat of reduction to a smaller corner template with e5, Blue has to answer within the marked hexes:
Because of the threat of reduction to two edge templates with move e3, Blue has to answer within the marked hexes:
Because of move c5 reducing, Blue has to answer within the marked hexes:
The only common hex is d5.
Red can then play e4 and connection to both edges is obvious.
Some two-stone templates
If Blue plays e5, Red's only way to retain connection to both sides within the template is f4, displaying standard Y tactics in a nutshell.
The following templates are valid but not necessarily minimal:
