Public forum discussion.
27 Sep 2021
I lost several tournament games in a row recently, all against higher-rated players.
2262333
2262341
2262324
2262348
2262359
2262368
2262366
I felt like previous to this, my confidence in Hex was growing, and even defeated a few stronger players in a previous tournament. But now I think I must be doing something wrong.
My question is - for each game, what was my first obvious mistake, and what was my biggest mistake?
Thanks.
27 Sep 2021
Maybe play the centre of a delta
28 Sep 2021
28 Sep 2021
2262333: Play the 5-4 point, not the 5-5 point in the acute corners. Favor obtuse corners when they're available. Learn obtuse corner joseki: http://trmph.com/hex/board#13,j4j2k2j3k3 http://trmph.com/hex/board#13,j4i3k4k3j3j2l3 http://trmph.com/hex/board#13,j4i5
2262341: Play k12 not l12. Move 3, you already have a stone on the south edge, put one on the north edge (such as at j4). Again, you're playing 5-5 in the acute corner, you should play d5.
2262324: a13, not b12.
2262348: Always swap a4. c5 is not a good second move, play the obtuse corner (d10). For move 4, you need something on your east edge, like j4. By the time you play i9 (which should have been i10) it's too late.
2262359: Don't play the center on your first move. Take a corner. d10 would have been good. After black plays j9, attack with one of the typical joseki (http://trmph.com/hex/board#13,j9j10i10 http://trmph.com/hex/board#13,j9g11)
2262368: Move 3, play the obtuse corner (j4) if you want a stone on this edge. Also if your plan was to play the ladder to the left, you should have extended your territory to the right first: (http://www.trmph.com/hex/board#13,a10c3d4c11i9j4g7g8e9e10f9f10g9g10h9i10d11d10h10g12h11h12i11i12j11j12k11k12l11l12)
2262366: Swap a4. Play the 4-3 point (j11) not 4-4 (j20). On move 4, you need to put something on the left edge, you've already got a stone on the right edge.
28 Sep 2021
In case it's not clear, the 5-4 point is a move like j9 for black, or i10 for white