The task
- To move
- Light
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Goal
- take 12 of 16 boxes
16 boxes are still unclaimed. The best line gives the side to move a margin of 8. A 4 × 4 board in the chain phase. Count chains before you draw anything.
What to look for
- Control: make your opponent open the long chains.
How the answer is checked
There is exactly one first move that forces the result; any other first move allows the defence to escape. Moves that keep the forced result are accepted later in the line, and a move that loses it is taken back with a short note.
Show the key move
The key move is a4-a5. The main line runs: a4-a5 · c3-c4 · b4-c4 · b1-c1 · b1-b2 · a1-a2 · d1-d2 · c1-d1 · d2-e2 · a3-b3 · b2-b3 · c2-c3 · d2-d3 · d3-e3 · a3-a4 · d3-d4 · c4-d4 · d4-d5 · d5-e5.