User:Mason
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[hide]Relative Coordinates
This is a coordinate system adapted from Go that allows us to talk about important moves in the same way, regardless of board size. We use YX instead of XY because row is more important in Hex, and because we're taking the bottom red edge as our perspective, as is customary. This also most closely resembles how people talk about certain moves already. 4-4 becomes 44. 5-4 becomes 54'.
- A: 44
- B: 54'
- C: 5'4
- D: 4'4'
- 1: 2'3
- 2: 5'2
3 requires some more explaining. On it's own, 3 would be 62. However, in the context of stones 1 and 2, it is better to refer to it as 8'2. This is because the sequence 2'3, 5'2, 8'2 is a common opening sequence, and referring it as 8'2 means it won't change with board size. It also communicates the fact that 3's row is based on the placement of 1 and 2, and not distance from the red edge.
Edges
Relative coordinates naturally give rise to a very simple way of referring to the edges: red, red', blue, blue'.
Board Shading
Shading the 5th rows is a useful shading pattern in general, but even more so when used with relative coordinates. Every cell on the board can be referred to with very little effort. The 5th row is chosen due to it being the middle of the three rows where most interesting things happen (4, 5, and 6).
Symmetrical Switchback Templates
Templates
Ladder Escapes
Switchbacks
Only works if there's a second row foldback threat.
Floldbacks
The cell with the + needs to be extended with empty cells such that it is adjacent to the red stone at the front of the ladder, with blue to move.
The cell with the + needs to be extended with empty cells such that it is adjacent to the red stone at the front of the ladder, with blue to move.