Five Lessons for the Beginning Hive Player

[@michaelaobrien3508]

Thank you for teaching without the expansions!

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

you are welcome. sadly, however, the classic (less the expansions) Hive is probably going away. the news from gen42 games is that the next version will include all expansions!

[@theelysium1597]

@@PlayHiveLikeaChampion oh well, here I just bought carbone and the expansion separately ^^ anyway ...

[@titania7768]

As a new player a video around the idea of jumping from standard hive to all 3 expansion games would be informative.

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks I will see what I can do.

[@texteel]

in my experience, the starting bug gets stuck in its position a majority of the time, without the option to move it. Because of this, I often opt to start with spiders, which are often just weaker ants. When does this playstyle fall apart? And against what?

[@jangohemmes352]

Defensive bugs would have the option to move, as they can jump out. That's why they're good as a starting bug. Even better when they're next to the queen and vacate a kill spot

[@bangbinbash]

Amazing content, and tips. Your videos absolutely revitalized my appreciation for Hive. I can't wait to get more games in to put it all to practice!

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks for your positive comment. If you play at either BoardGameArena or BoardSpace, watch for me. I am 'ringersoll' at both sites. I would love to play a game or two.

[@Raptoricus]

Clear and concise as always Randy. Thanks for this one.

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@96lolazo]

Nice video. It would be interesting if you do a video summarizing more tips for beginners in a longer video. I mean, more tips and strategies easy to carry out. Thanks for your advices anyway!

[@ryansully1303]

Just played my first three games and came to your channel after it was recommended on reddit. Keep on the great work!

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks Ryan and welcome to the Hive community. I play regularly on BoardGameArena and BoardSpace. Watch for me at either place. I am ringersoll.

[@Roywebcafe]

Great video Randy. I am still waiting for my pocket Hive game to arrive from Amazon today and excited about learning with the pieces. First game ill be down the pub with a friend or two. Normally play Chinese chess there but its not very popular. The pocket version comes with the Ladybird (bug) and the mosquito expansion. further down the line will hopefully buy more expansions. Imagine mixing venom and Hive original with all the piece expansions? Mustn't get ahead of myself. Your Vids are number one on how to be a better player.

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks for commenting. I appreciate you taking the time to watch!

[@itsmevarnami]

I wish this game was more popular

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

I wish that it were more popular, too! Join us on Discord... Invite your friends to try it!

[@clayheadnightmares]

I would love to see more lessons like this. 👍

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting. I will see what I can do!

[@tonyb83]

Have you done a video that explains : 1. Which are defending and attacking pieces and why. 2 The basic tactics followed by better and better tactics? I'd like to know because I'm a biginner and that's what beginners like me need to know and learn. Thanks

[@justmakingthistoreply5085]

This game has changed a lot with the addition of the mosquito, ladybug, and almighty pillbug

[@randyingersoll887]

Yes it is like playing a completely different game

[@fredseibel2058]

Can you analyze a game where somebody leads with Queen and then plays 2-3 ants? Thanks.

[@edmundosborne447]

What should be the first and second expansion piece to add to your game if you’re new player

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

IMHO, Hive is best played with NO expansions, or ALL expansions. Historically, White's first turn advantage increased a little with the addition of the Mosquito, then a lot with the addition of the Ladybug. The Pillbug was a monumental improvement in overall game play. It completely changed the game. With all three expansions, Hive is much deeper and complex. That is why virtually all tournament play uses all three expansions. In order to minimize draws, it is important to use the Tournament Opening Rule, which forbids either player from playing the Queen as the first piece. Thanks for asking!

[@valor36az]

Great tutorial

[@amiralikhodakhah2966]

thank you

[@manfredkirchhoff]

Great tutorial, one suggestion though: better audio quality and clearer pronunciation would help. Even the automatic yt subtitling displays many words wrongly (e.g. cats iso ants) and for a non-native English speaker it is sometmes hard to understand you.

[@JimKingForMayor]

Great video. One suggestion: use different color dots to distinguish white kills spots from black kills spots - easier for a beginner to quickly visually understand, particularly when you are showing all kill spots for both players at the same time (such as at time 6:05)

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks for watching and the positive comment. That is a great idea about different color dots for White/Black Kill Spots!

[@stephentaylor8409]

Love your channel Randy. One question, when you commentate on Hive World Championship matches how do you ensure the players aren't listening in for tips?

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

We have not had a problem in the past. My combination of OBS and KZbin has the ability to do a time delay. I will see what I can do to implement that before the Championship Tournament starts.

[@stephentaylor8409]

Great thanks Randy, I look forward to your coverage.

[@CablesCodex]

Thank you for this. How is it possible to play a game on board games arena and then upload it to board space for the replay? Am I getting that clearly? Is that what you stated in the first part of the video that you did to generate this game?

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

I have created two additional accounts at BoardSpace... playerone and playertwo. I typically use playerone to play White and playertwo to play Black. I then log in multiple times on BoardSpace and play the game, following along as I replay the game on BGA.

[@cplcastell8153]

Great video!

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comment!

[@sherrybai2505]

Would be interested in seeing more detailed opening strategy videos like in chess

[@skeeterarnold9189]

Question 🙋‍♂️ Can the pill bug move the beetle when the beetle in on top of a another piece?

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Here is a direct quote from the official Hive Pillbug rules: "The Pillbug may not move any piece in a stack of pieces" So it cannot move the beetle, or the piece under the beetle.

[@skeeterarnold9189]

I am sorry… we have the rules. However, my wife “was” the one that has been ready them. I have just gone with what she tells me. I just read your reply to her and asked why I even bothered to send this original message if it is already spelled out in the rules…! She is just tired/frustrated with me utilizing the beetle every time she pulls out the pill bug! Lol 😂 Wow….! So I don’t know exactly what she was hoping to accomplish by me asking about it here. Maybe hoping that someone would give her an out.

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

@@skeeterarnold9189 I think that it is wise to occasionally allow your wife to win. After all... Happy Wife = Happy Life

[@skeeterarnold9189]

@@PlayHiveLikeaChampion Lol 😂 I do, occasionally. However, that being said. Most of the time, it comes down to the day. She has lost 5-6 times in a row and so have I. Some days it just seems like “it’s just not my day”. That goes both ways. 😊

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

@@skeeterarnold9189 Yes, that is the way of Hive!

[@danilopablo9848]

How to play as black against white queen as first spawning piece?

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

Thanks for asking this question. With experience, a Hive player quickly learns that there is a big advantage to getting one's Queen into play early so that other pieces can move. This information leads to White starting with the Queen. Black will be at a serious disadvantage if black plays anything other than the Queen. Then, both Queens are adjacent and the probability of a draw increases. In the 2008 Hive Online World Championship Finals, the score was 3-1 with 27 draws! It was after this tournament that the Tournament Opening Rule was implemented. Neither player is allowed to place the Queen as the first piece. I believe that the rules with the edition of Hive with all expansions that is due to be released soon will include the Tournament Opening Rule as standard.

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

All of that being said, it is possible (although difficult) to win as Black. The key is to set up a good defensive structure aka two good defenders adjacent the friendly Queen. White will not be able to do since the White Queen automatically has a black bug adjacent.

[@ronagucor4317]

Cool 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 awesomely great

[@KaijudoRuns]

You’re definitely a chess player aren’t you

[@PlayHiveLikeaChampion]

i am a reformed chessaholic - i quit playing 40 years ago, but still watch @Agadmator

[@diamondmeeple]

Playing classic Hive, it is kind of solved? Solved: If both players are among the best the winner is close to always the starting player/2nd player?

[@phaedruscj3330]

link ?

[@diamondmeeple]

@@phaedruscj3330 Ask one of the champs.