december 10, 2013

Problem of the Week

for Tuesday, December 10, 2013

In the "if-you-please" version of hex, black choses a hexagon and offers red the opportunity to color it red or pass. If red passes, black colors that hexagon black, and then red colors the hexagon of her choice red on the second move. Given the 3 by 3 hex board below where the winner is first player to build a bridge connecting opposite shores (black: north-south and red: east-west), which hexagons would red choose to color red when offered the option, and then be able to win against any opponent? Color these hexagons red.

Winners of the Red-to-go-first hex challenge