User:Mason

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, if stones 1 and 2 were the previous two moves, it can be 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 to 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'.

Templates

This is actually 3 templates. Each blue-shaded cell represents a place you can put a blue stone and still have a template.

Switchbacks

6-8 Switchbacks

Only works if there's a second row foldback threat.

Foldbacks

4-2 Foldbacks

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.

5-2 Foldbacks

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.

5-3 Foldbacks

Generalizible to any capped flank.

6-3 Foldbacks

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.

Misc

Assuming * could be used for a ladder escape fork if the ladder was farther away. Blue must play at a.