Strategerie

[PsyDinSB]

Any suggestions for how to contend with someone who isn't really playing the game - they're just pinning and countering every move?

I mean, don't get me wrong - I know it's technically a valid/sound strategy. It's just kind of tedious and obnoxious IMO. I'd rather go up against someone who's willing to risk a bit for the sake of their strategy and an interesting game. As opposed to someone who's just going for the chokehold until there's nothing left.

[katagatame]

What do you mean by "really playing the game"? Pinning and counter-pinning have always been a huge part of good strategy in Hive. Piece mobility is a key strategic factor, both increasing your own and limiting your opponent's.

I have two suggestions for how you might contend with such opponents:

1. Don't. Limit your opponent selection to players with lower Elo scores. Those players may play more casually and/or not have learned good strategy and tactics (including piece mobility and pinning) yet.

2. Learn to pin and counter-pin better than they do. That will take experience, playing lots of games, and learning from your losses, but you could also watch some strategy videos on youtube and/or read Ingersoll's or Schultz's book (or both) on Hive strategy. You may find, as so many Hive players have, that the game is even more interesting when you play it carefully and strategically.

[PsyDinSB]

I had a feeling I was going to get this kind of reply...

Maybe I should clarify - I'm not playing recklessly or non-strategically (or looking for opponents who play that way). I'm saying there's a subtle difference between someone who's pinning and counter-pinning and someone who's only strategy seems to be "hunker down" and "lock it up." As in - there's a perfectly legitimate move that will win them tempo or allow them to add strength to the board (i.e., seizing initiative and actually "playing the game") and instead they just pin and block, pin and block, pin and block. Until there are no plays left.

And again, I get that it's a valid strategy. Just seems overly conservative, tedious, and lacking creativity to me. I enjoy playing opponents who are working all of the core gameplay elements (tempo, strength, and mobility). I don't love playing opponents who seem to only have one trick - feels like playing a bot.

Because ultimately I agree - the game is way more interesting when you play it carefully and strategically. But it's even more fun when you're both trying to outsmart each other.

[katagatame]

I favour an outer-hive/mobility/ant-game play style myself, the kind you dislike. I know that it is not possible to lock an opponent down with pins and blocks without having the tempo and force to execute those pins and blocks. If you are consistently finding yourself locked down, then your opponents are outplaying you in these aspects of strategy as well.

I stand by my two recommendations. Well, let's eliminate the first since you've indicated it does not appeal. But I still recommend learning the pinning and counter-pinning strategy and play-style better. This is what I did when I had hard losses to chaotic inner hive play, or to skilled early-game beetle blitzes. I experimented with those strategies myself.

This helped me not only learn them better in order to defend against them, but also to add them to my own repertoire of strategic options. I believe this approach makes one a stronger player. Learn to play all aspects of the game well--the game as it is, not as you might prefer it to be. The reality is that if you let opponents lock you down to having no move, then they will do that, and by doing so they will be "really playing"--not only trying to outsmart, but succeeding.

[ringersoll]

As I have often said, "Surrounding your opponent's Queen is not the strategy in Hive, that's just how you win!"

More seriously, post a link to one of the games in question and I am sure that someone will review it and comment on it.
You might even make it on my YouTube channel.

[esspea]

But it's even more fun when you're both trying to outsmart each other.

Are you winning these games? Drawing these games? Or losing these games?

If you are winning, you should have no complaints. Someone is playing sub-optimally and you are taking advantage.

If you are drawing, then I understand why it would be a little annoying but that doesn't mean there isn't room for you to recognize that your opponent is playing for a draw and not letting it happen, thereby outsmarting them.

If you are losing, it sounds like your opponent is playing to outsmart you and succeeding. Why is it your opponent that needs to change?