Reading this maze
Two-diamond return starts at row 4, column 2. Of the 42 grid positions, 30 are paintable and 12 are walls. The start is already painted; the other 29 tiles remain to be reached.
Diamonds A at row 3, column 2 and row 2, column 2 toggle the same gate at row 1, column 2. Start up and stop at row 2, column 2. Use the closed gate as a stopping point before reopening the return route. Both diamonds change the available shortest routes. The first slide covers 3 of 30 target tiles.
The verified opening crosses 2 tiles before stopping. A breadth-first search proves a 22-slide finish from this exact starting board; that is a reference target, not a move limit. You may revisit any painted tile.
Switch A is a diamond; gate A has bars when closed and a dashed outline when open. Entering the switch toggles it immediately, including during a slide. If you get trapped, undo or restart; Hint checks the current gate and painted-floor state.