V vs. H game 1

Game information

Size: 11x11
Result: 1-0 (Red won)
Comments: David Boll
Note : the swap rule is not used here

The following is an annotated transcript of a hex game. Follow along with this on a board, and you could learn all kinds of stuff. The players are H and V, V moves first. H is a bit weak in the opening, but the mid game is wide open after a questionable move by V. V ends up preserving the win by carefully maintaining the winning line throughout some tricky positions.

1.	f6		The center hex, the strongest opening move for V.
	...	f5	H chooses a weaker line of defense, g3 is usual.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h	i	j	k

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

2.	h4		V presses the attack on the north edge.
	...	i1	H plays the "classic" defensive move. Note that g5 may look tempting here, but H is in trouble after h5.
3.	e4		V shifts focus to the right side, threatening, but not establishing, a link to the north.
	...	e3	H's piece at i1 allows this defense, but f1 might have been better.
4.	g2	g3	H can stop V's connection to e4 or h4, but not both!
5.	i3		V is now connected from the north. j2 or h2 both get the link, and H can't stop both.
	...	e9	H shifts sides and tries to play defense on the south.
6.	h7		Nice, aggressive, offensive and defensive move.
	...	g10	H's game is all defense at this point.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h	i	j	k

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

7.	i9		V connects to the south, choosing to fight for the link in the middle rather than along the edge.
	...	j2	H's first sign of life on offense. H threatens h2 or i2, which links H from the right out to f5...
8.	h2		But, V shuts the door on that!
	...	h6	This piece is linked to the right, even though it's not the usual 4th row template, thanks to the H piece at h2,
9.	j5	i4	V tries to block, and H saves the link.
10.	g7?		Not a terrible move, but d9 was probably better. V links up in the center with this move.
	...	g6!	If V responds with a knee-jerk f7 to save the link, H looks pretty good after g5.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h	i	j	k

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

11.	d6!		A nice reply to H's strong move. V de-fuses f5, and extends from e4, which could end up being connected to the north.
	...	g5	H makes the link anyway. Perhaps H would have been better off moving on the south side here.
12.	f3		V keeps the sure thing to the north.
	..	f7	H is now connected from the right out to f7/e9.
13.	c9		Once again, V gets a link and plans to fight for connection in the middle.
	...	d5!	A very sneaky threat. If V plays a knee-jerk e5, H plays d9, and forces V to choose which side of c9 to play defense on. If north, H attacks south at b11, with some north ladder help at d5, and east ladder help at g10. If south, c8 wins for H.
14.	c6!		But V sees right through all that! This move strengthens ties to c9, and allows V to stop H even if H makes the e5 link.
	...	g1	H tries to throw some doubt in V's ability to stop H from connecting from d4 to the left.
15.	f2	f1	V forces two ladder steps, which restores ability to stop
16.	e2	e1	H after H's threat of e5.
17.	h1		Now this is safe for V.
	...	c8	H's last gasp at a win. Inexact play by V could lead to a ladder east then north to H's link to the east edge.
18.	e7		The only win-preserving move in the area.
	...	d8	Forced.
19.	e8	Resign	Threatens to connect at d9 or f8; H has run out of tricks. H resigns.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h	i	j	k

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Source : mazework