Computer Olympiad 2000 - Hex

Game rules

1. The game is played on a "slanted-square" array of hexagonal cells.
2. The board size will be 11x11.
3. For consistency in game notation and display, the columns are to be denoted a through k from left to right, and the rows numbered 1 through 11 from bottom to top. The board slants in such a way that the lower left-hand corner (where cell a1 is) is an acute corner.
4. Play alternates between Vertical and Horizontal with Vertical playing first. A move consists of marking a vacant cell with a coloured piece indicating Vertical or Horizontal.
5. The roles of Vertical and Horizontal are not yet assigned to the players when the game starts. One player is nominated the opening player. The other player is the responding player. The opening player plays the first move with a piece of Vertical's colour. The responding player then chooses whether to be Vertical or Horizontal, which fixes the players roles of Vertical and Horizontal for the rest of the game. Play then continues with the next move by Horizontal.
6. Vertical wins if a chain of connected V-cells is created from row 1 to row 11. Horizontal wins if a chain of connected H-cells is created from column a to column k. The game ends as soon as a winning chain is created.

Operational rules

Each program must display the current position on the screen for the benefit of the tournament director. Programs must be able to retract moves to correct operator errors under the instruction of the TD.

Each program must complete its moves for one game in XXX minutes. (XXX is still to be determined and will depend on number of entrants and available computers as well as participant opinion. If you are entering, or might enter, the computer Hex tournament, please email your opinion, giving the rate of play you would prefer, to olympiad@dcs.qmw.ac.uk. XXX=30 is the organisers preference.)

Each program must produce a file on disc with the moves of the game, to give to the TD after the game.

Tournament Rules

Each tournament encounter will be two games - opening and responding for each player.

The tournament will be all-play-all if there are 6 or fewer participants. If there are more than 6 participants it will be a 5-round Swiss.

Each game will score 1 points for the winning player, 1/2 point for each player if drawn, and 0 points for the losing player.

Tournament ranking will be by (1) points scored (2) sum of opponents points scored.