A game of Hive® starts with both players placing their opening bug adjacent to that of their opponent. Black’s opening bug can be placed in one of six possible empty spaces around white’s opening bug.
As a result, the hive can start growing in six orientations. The chosen orientation makes no difference in a game. However, in order to study, compare and review games, one orientation has to be chosen as a reference, or standard position1.
In standard position, black’s opening bug is placed immediately to the right of white’s opening bug. The two pieces form a horizontal line, or starting axis. If black’s opening bug is placed in any of the other 5 spaces, the position is adjusted by rotation.
In standard position, the white Queen Bee is placed above the starting axis.
If the white Queen Bee is on the starting axis, the black Queen Bee must be above it.
If both Queen Bees are on the starting axis, the first white (or, failing that, black) piece placed or moved off the starting axis is considered to be above it.
Any game played in a different orientation will have to be brought back to standard position by rotation and reflection before it can be analysed and compared to other games.
1 Ingersoll, Randy. (2014). p. 18. (https://a.co/d/3nx3r35)