Puzzle #22: Five in a Row

Dark to move. 12 stones are on the board, 6 dark and 6 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.

Before you touch a piece, list every forcing move you have and every threat the opponent has; the answer is almost always on that short list.

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.