Black is threatening to cut across the top. If 7.B5* 8.C2* wins.

Or if 7.B3* 8.D5*. White’s pegs do not cooperate with each other well here. For example, if 9.C6* 10.C7* is just too close to Black’s border. It is illegal for White to play at A7, so Black wins.

Another winner for Black is 6.E9*
If 7.D10* 8.E3* 9.C2* 10.B6 11.I5* 12.F6** (see diagram on the right)	Again, the poor shape of White’s pegs means there is no way to close the gap. White cannot block both of Black’s threats: D5*** and D7***. Neither can White block both of Black’s threats on the right: I3* and I9*. Other move orders would have worked; for example, the above position could have been reached starting with 6.E3*.

Yet another winner for Black is 6.C6

Good shape triumphs over bad shape. If 7.D5 8.E5** 9.B6** 10.C4*.

Or if 7.C4 (Too late!) 8.D8* 9.E9* 10.A5* and now there is no way to stop all of Black’s threats. If 11.I5* 12.F6**.

If White tries answering 6.C6 with 7.B5*, then 8.D8* is similar to the previous line.

A fourth winning move is 6.D10

If 7.D11 8.E8*. If 7.D9 8.E8* 9.E7** 10.B9* 11.H10 12.G9*.

A fifth winner is 6.E8; 7.E7** 8.D10* is the same pattern. Or 7.E9* 8.C7* 9.H8* 10.F6***.

But not everything works:
A. If 6.F6** 7.D6*.
Now if 8.E4* 9.E2* 10.C5* 11.B5**, or if 8.C4 9.B5** 10.E3** 11.C3*, or if 8.C3 9.B3* 10.E4** 11.C1* 12.B5 (trying for a draw) 13.C6* 14.D10 15.D11 16.E8** 17.B10** 18.D7* (stopping the double-link on E7) 19.B8* 20.C9** (stopping the double-link on D9) 21.C10-B10/C8+B8/C10

Black cannot stop White from linking to B12 or D12.

Other false starts are:
B. If 6.C4 7.B5* 8.E3** 9.C3*
C. 6.F10* fails against 7.D9. Now if 8.E3* 9.C2* 10.D5* 11.C6* 12.B9 13.E7*** and Black cannot block both C11* and E11*.
D. 6.B6 7.D6* 8.E3* 9.C4*.

Return to part 2.

I emphatically welcome all questions, both general and specific, as well as any comments you may care to send me! My email is: twixt@cstone.net

- David J. Bush