December 17, 2013

Problem of the Week

for Tuesday December 17, 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 hexagon(s) could black offer red the option of coloring, knowing that black will be able to win the game regardless of whether red accepts the option or passes? Color this or these hexagons black.

Winners of the black wins regardless challenge