Broadcast from quentin via PBM Server

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camb wrote:
> Dear Hex players,
> Here's an interesting problem (well, interesting if you like Hex)....
> Problem: find a play by H that defeats the template, or show that none exist.
> camb (with thanks to quentin and taral for discussions)

Since I've been mentioned, I guess I'll have to chime in :).

I cannot seem to find a defense for V in response to H's K8,
so I think it defeats the template.


         5  . . . . . . . . H H H H H H H . .  5
          6  . . . . . . H H _ _ _ _ _ _ H H .  6
           7  . . . . H H _ _ _ _ V _ _ _ _ H H  7
            8  . . H H _ _ _ _ _ _ h _ _ _ _ _ .  8
             9  . H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  9
             10  H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  10
              11  _ _ _ _ _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  11
                   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q

Defense #1:  h8 (fails)
   h can break connection across the top (i8)
   and still afford to stop the escape of h8 to the left
   with g9

   Horz         Vert
   1 k8         2 h8
   3 i8         4 j8
   5 j9         6 i9
   7 i10        8 h9
   9 f10 <- connects to the left

         5  . . . . . . . . H H H H H H H . .  5
          6  . . . . . . H H _ _ _ _ _ _ H H .  6
           7  . . . . H H _ _ _ _ V _ _ _ _ H H  7
            8  . . H H _ _ _ v h v h _ _ _ _ _ H  8
             9  . H _ _ _ _ _ v v h _ _ _ _ _ _ _  9
             10  H _ _ _ _ h _ _ h _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  10
              11  _ _ _ _ _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  11
                   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q

Defense #2: j8 (fails)
   force the ladder to h10
   Horz         Vert
   1 k8         2 j8
   3 j9         4 i9
   5 i10        6 h10

         5  . . . . . . . . H H H H H H H . .  5
          6  . . . . . . H H _ _ _ _ _ _ H H .  6
           7  . . . . H H _ _ _ _ V _ _ _ _ H H  7
            8  . . H H _ _ _ _ _ v h _ _ _ _ _ .  8
             9  . H _ ? ? _ _ _ v h _ _ _ _ _ _ _  9
             10  H _ _ _ _ _ _ v h _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  10
              11  _ _ _ _ _ _ H h _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  11
                   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q

   The most interesting move here would be d9 or e9
   but I think both of them can be stopped by H.

   Note I think reducing the above steps to a 4 1/2
   row template (this is the mirror of it, so I don't have
   to retype everything) it helps to see how H can
   make a connection:

                   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q
              11  _ _ _ _ _ _ H . . . . . . . . . .  11
             10  H _ _ _ _ _ _ v . . . . . . . . .  10
             9  . H _ _ _ _ _ _ v . . . . . . . .  9
            8  . . H H _ _ _ _ _ v . . . . . . .  8
           7  . . . . H H _ _ _ _ V . . . . . .  7
          6  . . . . . . H H _ _ _ _ . . . . .  6
         5  . . . . . . . . H H H H . . . . .  5


-- 
Quentin Neill                qneill@racemi.com
Racemi                       http://www.racemi.com
work: 404-892-5850 x111      cell: 678-557-5408