Hex
Your turn: join top to bottom
Tap any empty cell. Gold edges are top and bottom; ivory edges are left and right. Your record: 0 wins · 0 losses · 0 draws
How to play Hex
Hex is a connection game invented by the mathematician Piet Hein in 1942, and independently by John Nash a few years later. The rules take a minute; mastering it takes a lifetime.
- Take turns placing one stone on any empty cell. Stones never move or get captured.
- Gold links top to bottom. Build an unbroken chain of gold cells joining the two gold edges.
- Ivory links left to right. The same, between the two ivory edges.
- There are no draws. A full board always has exactly one winning chain.
Quick tips for winning
- Start near the centre. Central stones reach both of your edges and block your opponent.
- Use the bridge. Two of your stones with two empty cells between them can’t be cut apart: if your opponent takes one, take the other.
- Block from a distance. Placing right next to an opponent’s stone is easy to go around; block a few cells ahead.
- Think about both edges. A strong chain in the middle still needs to reach the edges at the end.
Learn bridges, edge templates and how to block in Hex.
Read the Hex guideHex FAQ
Is Hex free?
Yes. Play the computer or a friend as often as you like, free in your browser.
Can Hex end in a draw?
No. It’s mathematically impossible: when the board is full, exactly one player has a connecting chain.
Doesn’t the first player have an advantage?
Yes, a big one. Serious players use a swap rule to balance it. Against the computer here, you always go first.
What board sizes can I play?
7×7 for a quick game, 9×9, or 11×11, the classic size.
Who invented Hex?
Piet Hein in Denmark in 1942, and John Nash, the mathematician from A Beautiful Mind, independently in 1948.