Computer Hex

This page lists some software programs and programming topics that may be of interest to Hex players. The programs include AI opponents and tools for analysing completed games.

More complete or up-to-date information is welcome.

AI techniques used in Hex

• Minimax and alpha-beta search were used by Queenbee.
• UCT is used in MoHex.

Programs with AI

There are several computer programs which play Hex.

Available programs

Program	Platforms	Remarks
MoHex	Linux	As of 2010, the strongest available Hex program. It uses the UCT-Monte Carlo approach and is developed at the University of Alberta by Philip Henderson, Broderick Arneson and Ryan Hayward.
Wolve	Linux	Gold medallist of 2008 Computer Olympiads.
Six	Linux, Unix, Windows	by Gábor Melis.
Hexy	Windows	The second strongest program available. It was the first program to use virtual connections and was champion of the 5th Computer Olympiad in 2000.
Hexy	iPhone	Despite using the same name, this program has no relation to Hexy. It was released in November 2008, offers an AI opponent; the AI appears to be a custom design and hasn't been rated. As of 26 December 2019 it is no longer available.
Hexatious	iPad, iPhone	Released in August 2009, appears to offer a stronger AI than the iPhone Hexy app (in particular, Hexatious easily beats the other iPhone app in head-to-head competition). As of 26 December 2019 it is no longer available
Hex Nash	iPad, iPhone	Released February 2011, no AI but supports online asynchronous play and local play. As of 26 December 2019 it is no longer available
Hexilla	Java	By Jonatan Rydh, released in October 2009.
Hex	Android	By Five Factorial, released in January 2017. It uses MoHex engine on Expert level.

Unavailable programs

• Mongoose by Yngvi Björnsson, Ryan Hayward, Mike Johanson, Morgan Kan, and Nathan Po.
• Queenbee by Jack van Rijswijck finished second that year.

Non playing programs

Front End

• HexGui is a graphical user interface designed by "ab", mostly used as a front end to play against Six. It is possible however to play against other programs that can communicate via GTP. It can be downloaded on "ab"'s web page (broken link).

Reviewing and Editing Programs

• JHex by Kevin lets you analyse a game, and databases of games.
• KHex by David King is a tool for reviewing games. Very well suited for sharing commented games (it exports games in Smart Game Format).
• KHex18 by David King is an online app for reviewing games, which can read LittleGolem game text.

External link

Articles

• Anshelevich, Vadim V. A hierarchical approach to computer Hex.
• van Rijswijck, Jack. Search and evaluation in Hex.
• Rasmussen, Rune K. and Maire, Frederic D. and Hayward, Ross F. (2006) A Move Generating Algorithm for Hex Solvers.
• Rasmussen, Rune K. (2008) Algorithmic approaches for playing and solving Shannon games (PhD Thesis).

See also

History of computer Hex

The International Computer Games Association also has some information on Hex. They organize an annual Computer Olympiad, which also covers Hex.