Tom's move

2011-02-11T00:19:05Z

Renaud:

== Introduction ==

'''Tom's move''' is a trick that enables a player to breakthrough a second [[ladder]]. Its name originates from player [[User:Tom239|Tom239]] who devised it during a game (against dj11, on 15 December 2002) on [[Playsite]]. This was not its first use ever, just how it came to be known among hex players on Playsite.

== Minimal example ==
In this diagram [[Red (player)|Red]] wants to connect to the bottom edge.

<hex>R6 C9 Q1
Va5 Va4 Vd3 Vb2 Ha6 Hb4 Hc3 Hd2 He1 Hf1 Hg1 Hh1 Hi1 Hh2 Hi2 Hi3</hex>

It looks impossible to use the single stone on the [[fourth row]] as a [[ladder escape]]. How can it be done? By using '''Tom's move''':

He [[Push (ladder)|pushes]] the ladder until he is right underneath it, and then he plays at 5.

<hex>R6 C9 Q1
Va5 Va4 Vd3 Vb2 Ha6 Hb4 Hc3 Hd2 He1 Hf1 Hg1 Hh1 Hi1 Hh2 Hi2 Hi3
N:on Vb5 Hb6 Vc5 Hc6 Vf4 +e5</hex>

Now the situation is completely identical to that in the [[Tips_and_tricks#Double_ladder_on_2nd_line_escape|Double ladder on 2nd line Escape]]. Blue's natural [[defense]] is to play at (+).

<hex>R6 C9 Q1
Va5 Va4 Vd3 Vb2 Ha6 Hb4 Hc3 Hd2 He1 Hf1 Hg1 Hh1 Hi1 Hh2 Hi2 Hi3
Vb5 Hb6 Vc5 Hc6 Vf4 Sd5 Sf2
N:on He5 Vg3</hex>

Now Red´s two pieces at g3 and f4 are [[Connection|connected]] to the [[bottom edge]] via [[edge template IV2b]], and his [[ladder]] can thus connect to the bottom edge in [[Multiple threats|two different ways]], by playing in either of the starred [[Hex (board element)|cells]].

[[category:ladder]]
[[category:Advanced Strategy]]

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Tom's move