Hex Free online game

What is it?

Hex is a board game played on a diamond of hexagons. Players take turns placing stones and race to connect their two opposite sides. Red connects top and bottom, Blue connects left and right.

When the board fills up, one side is always connected, so there are no draws. Because moving first is an advantage, the second player may take the first stone after the opening move with the swap rule.

How to play

1. Tap a cell to preview, tap again to place
2. Red wins by connecting top and bottom, Blue by connecting left and right. There are no draws
3. Red moves first. After the first move, Blue may 'swap' and take that stone

Difficulty and rankings

There's a weekly ranking and an all-time ranking; the weekly one resets every Monday at midnight (Korea time). For details, see the Help.

Good to know on Hanpanmadang

• There are three boards: 7×7, 9×9 and 11×11. Against the AI, the bigger the board, the harder the AI thinks, and each board size has its own records and rankings.
• Tap a cell once to preview, then tap it again to place. On Blue's turn right after the first move, a 'Swap' button appears below the board.
• When you swap, Red's first stone becomes a Blue stone at the spot mirrored across the diagonal, and it's Red's turn next. Colors and sides stay the same.

Common mistakes

Placing stones only in tight lines.

Going one cell at a time is too slow. Bridges move you twice as far in the same number of moves without being cut.

Playing elsewhere after your bridge is blocked.

When your opponent blocks one cell of a bridge, take the other right away. Wait, and they'll block it too and cut you off.

Leaving the area near your own edge empty.

A long path is useless if it never reaches the edge. Before extending it, check that both ends can get to your sides.

Tips

• Rather than placing stones right next to each other, use 'bridges': stones one step apart diagonally. If your opponent blocks one of the two empty cells between them, take the other and you stay connected.
• Taking the center first makes it easy to spread in any direction. But a first move right in the center invites your opponent to take it with a swap.
• Blocking alone rarely wins. Check whether a cell that blocks your opponent's path also extends your own.
• Near your edge, a stone on the second row is as good as connected. If your opponent blocks one of the two edge cells below it, take the other.