Tenuki
Tenuki is a strategy in the game of Hex where a player chooses to play in a different area of the board than the opponent's last move. The term "tenuki" is borrowed from the game of Go, where it is used to describe a similar strategy.
Tenuki is often used as a way to create new opportunities on the board and exploit weaknesses in the opponent's position. As more and more stones are played in an area, that area becomes less attractive to play in and it becomes more beneficial to focus on other areas of the board. This strategy allows players to expand their influence on the board and create new groups or chains while putting pressure on the opponent's existing groups.
Tenuki is highly underappreciated by less advanced players who tend to play locally for too long. Playing locally, or making moves in response to the opponent's last move, is an important strategy but it should not be the only strategy employed. By understanding when to use tenuki, players can become more versatile and adapt to different situations on the board.
Overall, understanding when to use tenuki and when to play locally is crucial for success in Hex. While local play is important for maintaining control and defending one's position, tenuki allows players to expand their influence on the board and exploit opportunities.
Tenuki vs. minimaxing
Tenuki is not the same as minimaxing. A minimaxing move is usually played in response to the opponent's last move, and preserves the player's connection, though not necessarily in the most straightforward way. It is therefore a form of local play. Tenuki, on the other hand, means to ignore the opponent's last move, even at the risk of getting disconnected, and playing an unrelated but more valuable move elsewhere.
