Dark to move. 18 stones are on the board, 9 dark and 9 light.
Make five in a line within 3 moves. Every move of the solution is a four, so the opponent's answers are forced.
What the position is about
- chain of fours — Each move of the solution makes a four, so every reply is forced.
- open four — The final shape is four in a row with both ends free, which cannot be blocked.
- forcing sequence — The solution is a series of threats, each one leaving the defence a single answer.
Finding the way in
Look for a four that forces a block in a useful place; the next four should land next to it and create two threats.
Play the position in your head from the opponent's side: what would you do against your favourite move? If there is a good answer, try the next candidate.
Show the first move
Start with j11. Played out against the stiffest resistance, the whole line goes: j11 e7 j12 j13 j8.
Solve it and the next puzzle of the same game is one tap away. Your solved puzzles are ticked in the list, in this browser only.