Hex edge connection: rules and printable materials

Claim hex cells and connect your assigned opposite sides through shared edges.

Players

2

Plan for

10–20 minutes

Bring

Five-by-five hex board and two pencil symbols

Agree the sides

X connects the top row to the bottom row. O connects the left column to the right column. The five-by-five board is a rhombus of hexagons: coordinates are row then column. In this drawing, adjacent cells differ by (0,1), (1,0) or (1,-1), and their opposites. They must share a full hex edge; a nearby corner is not enough.

Claim one cell

X starts the first game. On your turn write your symbol in exactly one empty hex cell. A claimed cell never moves or changes ownership. Players alternate until one connects their sides. You do not have to place beside your previous claim; separate groups can join later. Mark lightly inside the cell so borders remain visible.

Trace a win

For X, cells (1,3), (2,3), (3,3), (4,3), (5,3) form a valid top-to-bottom chain. A diagonal-looking set is not automatically adjacent; point to every shared edge. O’s chain must reach columns 1 and 5. A lone corner cell can touch one required side but does not replace a complete connection across the board.

Verify and reset

When a player claims a connection, trace it from one assigned border to the other without using enemy or empty cells. If the claim is incomplete, play continues with the placed mark unchanged. Stop immediately after a verified connection. For a friendly two-game match, exchange X/O roles and the starting player; record games rather than total cells.

Make the board readable

Use X and O even with colored pens. Two guests may advise a player, but agree the placement before marking. Print at 100% and use a fresh board per game. This is a paper connection game, not a maze: players create their own route. The outlined example is for explanation only and is separate from the empty playing board.

Printable materials

Preview at 100% scale, with browser headers and footers off. Cut with suitable help. Keep host keys separate. This is a manual tabletop kit, not an online opponent, automatic judge or solver.