When you must give boxes away, give the fewest

When there are no safe lines left, every move gives something away. Learn to open the shortest chain so your opponent gains as little as possible. Safe moves and chains · lesson 3 of 5.

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There are no safe lines left. The board has split into two chains: three boxes along the top, and six winding through the bottom two rows.

Whatever you draw opens one of them for your opponent.

Choose which chain to give away.

Try it: Open the shorter chain.

No safe lines? Open the shortest chain.

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