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 h8. Played out against the stiffest resistance, the whole line goes: h8 h7 k10 l11 f6.
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.