Chapter 3 · Mobility

Don't Flip Too Many Discs

The winner is decided by the disc count when the game ends. But discs flipped in bulk in the middle game can be flipped back by the opponent, so the current disc count does not simply become the final score.

In the opening and middle game, flipping fewer discs is often better. Flipping many at once may give you more discs for now, but it exposes your discs widely toward empty squares and gives the opponent more places to play.

Black C3 flips only D4. Afterwards White can play in 11 places, and the engine predicts +6.
In the same position, Black G4 flips five discs: D4, E4, F4, F5 and G5. Black has more discs, but White's places to play grow to 13 and the engine predicts -27. Compare with the first board.

Exercise

Black to move. Find the move that flips the fewest discs.

Exercise

White to move. Find the move that flips the fewest discs.

Exercise

Black to move. Find the move that flips the fewest discs.

Exercise

Black to move. Find the move that flips the fewest discs.

Exercise

White to move. Find the move that flips the fewest discs.

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