Reading this maze
Bent ladder starts at row 2, column 2. Of the 20 grid positions, 15 are paintable and 5 are walls. The start is already painted; the other 14 tiles remain to be reached.
Start right from row 2, column 2. The wall stops you at row 2, column 3; keep the side corridors available for a return visit. The first slide covers 2 of 15 target tiles; 13 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.
