Targeting Adjacent Cells After a Hit

Level: Basic

Prioritize the cells above, below, left, and right of a hit to finish finding the ship.

When a random shot scores a hit, that ship must extend in one of the four cardinal directions. Your next shot should be chosen from among the four neighbors of the hit cell as a rule.

Test the four directions in turn; a second hit reveals the ship's orientation. If a shot misses, rule out that direction and pursue the remaining ones.

This 'hunt to target' transition is the backbone of Battleship AI, and it's also the single most important habit for a human player.

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