View source for Bottleneck

The '''bottleneck''' is a strategic formation in the game of Hex where one player blocks the opponent's progress by occupying key positions on the board, creating a narrow passage that is difficult for the opponent to break through. The board fragment shown below illustrates this concept, with Blue occupying the key positions in a bottleneck formation, hindering Red's ability to connect to the bottom of the board.
<hexboard size="4x7"
  coords="none"
  edges="bottom"
  visible="area(d1,a4,g4,g1)"
  contents="R e1 e2 B d2 f2 d4"
  />
This formation often leads to a [[ladder]], with Red getting ladders in both directions, as shown in the second board fragment.
<hexboard size="4x7"
  coords="none"
  edges="bottom"
  visible="area(d1,a4,g4,g1)"
  contents="R e1 e2 B d2 f2 d4 R 1:d3 B 2:c4 R 3:c3 B 4:b4 R 5:e3 B 6:e4 R 7:f3 B 8:f4"
  />

It's important to note that, although the bottleneck can be an effective defense strategy, it also has its own weaknesses and can be exploited by a skilled opponent. Knowing how to both create and counter bottleneck formations is an important aspect of mastering the game of Hex.


[[category:strategy]]
[[category:definition]]