Dark to move. There are 30 dark and 26 light discs on the board and 8 empty squares.
You have 6 legal moves and only one of them keeps the ending won: with perfect play on both sides it finishes 36–28. Each of the 5 alternatives was searched to the last disc and draws or loses.
What the position is about
- corner — The fight is about a corner square: once taken, it can never be flipped back.
- a pass in the line — Somewhere in the main line one side has no move and must pass.
- only winning move — Every legal move was solved to the end: this one wins, all the others draw or lose.
Finding the way in
With eight empties left, count where the last move in each region will fall; the winning move often gives up discs now to keep the final say.
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 h1. Played out against the stiffest resistance, the whole line goes: h1 h5 c7 d8 h4 -- h7 -- g8 f8.
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.