Hex template puzzle - solution

[Cameron Browne <browne@research.canon.com.au>]

A couple of weeks ago I posed a Hex template puzzle. Here is the solution:

     The template can be defeated by H. One winning
     play is K8 as pointed out by taral and quentin.

However, the vulnerable 5-row template led to the development of a new safe 
4-row edge template as follows:

      6  . . . . . . . . . . .  6
       7  . . . . . . - - - . .  7
        8  . . . . - V - - - - .  8
         9  . . - - - - - - - - -  9
         10  . - - - - - - - - - -  10
          11  - - . - - - - - - - -  11
               A B C D E F G H I J K

	. = board point (empty or occupied by H)
	- = empty board point belonging to the template
	V = player trying to connect vertically
	H = player trying to connect horizontally

This is good news for Hex players as the new template fits on the standard 
11x11 board and could conceivably be useful in play, for example if H 
unwisely opens at C11.