Reading this maze
Coral fork starts at row 2, column 4. Of the 20 grid positions, 14 are paintable and 6 are walls. The start is already painted; the other 13 tiles remain to be reached.
Start up from row 2, column 4. The wall stops you at row 1, column 4; keep the side corridors available for a return visit. The first slide covers 2 of 14 target tiles; 12 remain.
The verified opening crosses 1 tiles before stopping. A breadth-first search proves a 8-slide finish from this exact starting board; that is a reference target, not a move limit. You may revisit any painted tile.
