The task
- To move
- Dark
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Goal
- only winning move
8 squares are still empty. With the right move the final count is 36 to 28; the other 5 moves do not win. Eight empty squares, and one move wins. Count parity: who gets the last move in each region?
What to look for
- The target is a corner.
- A pass occurs in the line, so the same side may move twice.
- Every other move fails, so check each candidate to the end.
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 a1. The main line runs: a1 · h1 · h2 · d2 · e1 · c1 · b1 · pass · h7.