(;AP[HexGui:0.10.GIT]
C[2020/05/08

Black\: Frank
White\: Eric

Handicap\: 1.5

White wins.]
FF[4]GM[11]SZ[11];B[f6];B[j9];W[f3];B[g4];W[h6];B[e8];W[e7];B[f7];W[h2](
;B[d4]
C[It would have been better to play g2 prior to this move. This would have connected d4 to the 1-edge, making d4 and subsequent moves forcing.]
;W[e5];B[d6];W[d5];B[g3];W[g2];B[i2];W[h3](;B[i4]
C[This move allows white to reply at i3, which can connect to the K-edge via a ladder escape fork at j5 (note that h6 threatens to connect to white's main group via g5 and double threat). A better alternative, though still losing, is black i3.]
;W[j5];B[g5]
C[White can now play i3 to connect to the K-edge via the ladder escape at j5. Also, White's d5 is connected to the A-edge due to a 3rd row ladder fork at c3. So White wins.]
;B[resign])(;B[i3]
C[Black i3 is still a losing move, because white can reply g5.];W[g5]
C[At this point h6 is connected to the K-edge by the 4th row edge template A-4, and to white's main group by double threat at h4 and f5. Also, d5 is still connected to the A-edge by ladder escape fork at c3, so white wins.]
;B[h4]
C[The remaining moves just fill in double threats and bridges, until black resigns.]
;W[f5];B[h5];W[g6]))(;B[g2]
C[The g2-g3 exchange leaves black in a stronger position regarding ladders along the 1-edge.]
;W[g3](;B[d4]
C[Note that d4 is now firmly connected to the 1-edge. Another possibility would have been e4, explored in the next variation.]
;W[e5];B[c6];W[c7];B[d6];W[e6];B[d7];W[d8](;B[c8])(;B[b9];W[c8];B[a8];
W[b7];B[a7];W[c3]))(;B[e4]
C[Possible move. We explored various branches in this variation. ];W[e3]
;B[c4];W[b4];B[d2](;W[d4])(;W[e6]
C[e6 and e7 are connected to the a-edge by template C-5 (http\://www.mseymour.ca/hex_book/hexstrat9.html)]
(;B[d6];W[c8])(;B[d4](;W[f4];B[f5];W[e5]
C[Although white is connected to the A-edge, its connection to the K-edge is not strong. Note that the bridge at g4-f6 is no longer present to be attacked by white.]
)(;W[f5];B[g5];W[f4];B[i2];W[h3];B[i3];W[h4];B[i4];W[h5];B[i6](;W[i7];
B[j6]
C[White did not connect to the K-edge. A winning position for black.])(;
B[j6])(;B[i7])))(;B[f5])))))
