Hex: Rules and How to Play
Hex is a two-player connection game that takes about 10 minutes. Take turns placing hexagons on the board; the first to join their two opposite edges wins. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Setup
- For 2 players. Playing alone, you face the computer.
- The board is an 11-by-11 rhombus of hexagonal spaces (13-by-13 or 19-by-19 in the house rules). Of its four edges, two opposite edges are red and the other two are blue. The corner spaces belong to both edges.
- The first player is red and the second blue. The first seat starts; when you play again, the first move switches each game (you can keep it fixed in the house rules).
How to play
- On your turn, place one hexagon of your colour on any empty space. You cannot pass.
- Pieces never move and are never captured.
- Spaces connect through their six sides. Two of your pieces one step apart diagonally share two empty spaces, so they are hard to cut apart (a bridge).
- With the swap rule on, after the first move the second player may press Swap instead of placing (once only): they take over the first red move, and the other player becomes blue and moves next. This discourages an overly strong first move and evens out the first-move advantage.
Winning and scoring
- The first player to join their two opposite edges with a connected chain of their colour wins.
- There are no draws. Blocking your opponent's path also builds your own.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board size | 11-by-11 is standard. 13-by-13 and 19-by-19 make longer games. | 11×11 | Can be changed |
| Swap ruleSwap ruleHex gives the first player a big advantage, and this rule cancels it out. After seeing the first move, the second player may swap colours and take that hexagon as their own if it looks strong. So the first player has to choose an opening move that is not too strong, one they would not mind losing. | After the first move, the second player may trade places with the first player instead of placing (once only). | Off | Can be changed |
| Alternate first move | Switch who goes first (red) after each game. | On | Can be changed |
Terms
- Edge
- A side of the board. Opposite edges share a colour; you join your two.
- Bridge
- Two pieces one step apart diagonally, linked through either of two shared empty spaces.
- Swap
- A house rule (the pie rule): after the first move, the second player may trade places with the first player.
FAQ
Can a game end in a draw?
No. One player always joins their edges by the time the board is completely full.
Does the first player have an advantage?
Yes. When you play again, the first move switches each game. Turning on the swap rule narrows the gap.
Can I change the board size?
Yes: 11-by-11, 13-by-13 or 19-by-19. Bigger boards make longer games.
Which edge do the corners belong to?
Both. A corner space counts for red and for blue.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-09-19 · Run by Qdan, Inc.