Hashi Advanced Techniques - Starvation
Don't worry - the Starvation technique is not quite as uncomfortable as it sounds! Like Isolation, it's based on the fact that every Island has to be able to reach every other Island, and it works like this:
Look at the island (2) at j4. It needs two bridges to complete and is spoilt for choice - it could go North, South or West. But what would happen if it went North and West?
If it did, then it would starve the island (3) at h2, because it would use up all the bridges available to j2 and h4. The h2 has to go somewhere, it has to go to either h4 or j2 - so we know that the island (2) at j4 cannot go both North and West.
...And since it can't go both North and West, it has to send at least one bridge South - so we've found another move.
Here's another example. The island (3) at k10 needs two more bridges to complete. In theory it could have one bridge going South to m10 and one going East to k12. But what would happen if it did?
If this happened, the islands m10 and k12 would also be complete. Since they're the only two islands currently reachable from m12, m12 would become cut off - it would have nowhere to send its last missing bridge - it would be starved.
So the island (3) at k10 cannot send bridges out to both South and East - at least one of them must go West.
Now you know what to do, have a go at our Sample and Daily puzzles. They're graded from Delicious to Atrocious, so you can start on the weedy boards till you get your skills up to scratch and then try for something a bit more adventurous. And our Hashi-san Assistant can help you out with logical advice if you get stuck.
Have fun!