Outpost
An outpost is an isolated stone sitting somewhere close to an edge or corner. Outputs are useful assets. They can often be used as ladder escapes. Even when an outpost is not a ladder escape, it may still permit the stone's owner to perform a variety of other maneuvers, such as switchbacks or foldbacks, or it may help with climbing.
One of the most fundamental Hex strategies is to try to create useful outposts during the first few moves of the game. For this reason, both players often start the game by trying to occupy corners. When a player places an outpost, the opponent will often try to decrease its usefulness, for example by playing a joseki. Doing this correctly is an important but difficult skill.
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Specific outposts
Due to the popularity of openings in the 'A' column, it is very common for a player to have a piece along the opponent's edge, near the acute corner. Such pieces can work as ladder escapes or switchbacks. This article summarizes how to use such pieces as ladder escapes or switchbacks.
Ladders towards a2
This is easy. a2 is a valid ladder escape for 2nd and 3rd row ladders.
Ladders towards a3
a3 is a valid ladder escape for 2nd row ladders, but not for 3rd row ladders. However, a3 works as a 3rd-to-5th row switchback. See A3 switchback. See also A3 escape trick.
Ladders towards a4
a4 isn't a valid ladder escape for any kind of ladders, but it works both as a 2nd-to-4th row switchback and as a 3rd-to-5th row switchback. See A4 switchback.
Second row ladders
Red plays at the star. Blue has to play to the left of the star, and Red can start a new ladder from a4 to the left.
Third row ladders
Red first plays at (*). When Blue plays between Red's ladder and this piece, Red plays his next piece at (+).
Ladders towards a5
a5 isn't a valid ladder escape for any kind of ladders, but it works both as a 2nd-to-4th row switchback and as a 3rd-to-5th row switchback. See A5 switchback.
Ladders towards a6
a6 isn't a valid ladder escape for any kind of ladders, but given enough space, it works as a 2nd-to-4th row switchback. See A6 switchback.
