Reading this maze
Paint junction starts at row 3, column 1. Of the 30 grid positions, 24 are paintable and 6 are walls. The start is already painted; the other 23 tiles remain to be reached.
Start right from row 3, column 1. The wall stops you at row 3, column 5; keep the side corridors available for a return visit. The first slide covers 5 of 24 target tiles; 19 remain.
The verified opening crosses 4 tiles before stopping. A breadth-first search proves a 15-slide finish from this exact starting board; that is a reference target, not a move limit. You may revisit any painted tile.
