(;AP[HexGui:0.10.GIT]
C[2021/10/08

Black\: Jia
White\: Frank

Handicap\: 0.5

White wins.
]
FF[4]GM[11]PL[B]SZ[11];B[d5];W[d3](;B[e4]
C[Eric\:

See my comment on the variation, and then note that here, Black isn't even actually connected to the 1-edge.]
;W[f3]
C[Eric\:



However, Black is close-enough to connected that White probably shouldn't play this yet.


I suggest tenuki, maybe to E7.

https\://senseis.xmp.net/?Tenuki
]
;B[f4];W[g3];B[h3];W[g4]
C[Eric\:

White should have foiled at H2.

https\://www.hexwiki.net/index.php/Foiling]
;B[e3];W[h2](;B[f1]
C[Eric\: Black should have minimaxed. See next two variations.];W[e7]
C[Eric\: good];B[f6];W[g8];B[f7];W[e9];B[i7];W[h6];B[k4];W[i5];B[d7];
W[c10];B[b10];W[c9];B[b9];W[c8];B[a8];W[b8];B[a9];W[b7];B[a7];W[c5];
B[b5];W[c3];B[resign])(;B[c5]
C[Eric\:


https\://www.hexwiki.net/index.php/Minimax

This will leave White with only an escape for height-2 ladders, rather than also an escape for height-3 ladders.]
;W[f1];B[c2]
C[Eric\:

https\://www.hexwiki.net/index.php/Ladder_escape_fork])(;B[b6]
C[Eric\:

This is another option.];W[f1];B[b3]))(;B[e3]
C[Eric\:


Even this is bad, since although Black gets the connection here, Black spent a net move

(2 by Black minus 1 by White)

for it and White has an escape for height-3 ladders, whereas I think Black doesn't quite have that.]
))
