Why the Opening Matters More Than You Think

Your first equation defines where on the board the game will be contested. BEDMAS equations must connect to existing tiles after the opening move, so your opening placement becomes the root from which all subsequent moves branch. A well-positioned opening opens paths to multiple bonus cells; a poorly placed one boxes you into a corner with no good follow-up options for the next four or five turns.

Three Principles for the Opening

• Place near the centre, not at an edge. Centre placements give you connection directions in four orientations rather than two. An edge placement immediately limits your expansion options by half.
• Favour equations with high answers in the opening. Even if you are not on a bonus cell yet, a higher answer builds a better scoring base and gives you more connection options for chaining later.
• Look two moves ahead. Before placing your first equation, ask: which bonus cells does this placement put within reach for turn two or turn three? Choose the opening that opens the best path to the nearest green or blue bonus cell, with a purple corner cell as the longer-term target.

What the Hard AI Does in the Opening

The Hard AI always opens centrally and immediately targets the nearest green bonus cell with its second move. Watch its first three placements carefully — they reveal which corner it is planning to reach. If you can identify that target early and place a tile that blocks the AI's most direct path, you can force it to take a longer route while you claim the bonus cell instead.

Common Opening Mistakes

• Placing your first equation at the edge of the board to score a small bonus. You lose flexibility and the AI will consistently out-position you from the centre.
• Using all your high-value tiles in the opening turn on a plain cell. Save at least one high-number tile for when you reach a bonus cell.
• Ignoring the AI's opening direction. If the AI opens toward the top-right corner, your best response is usually to contest that corner immediately, not to build in an unrelated direction.