Edge template VI1a

This template is the first one stone 6th row template for which a proof has been handwritten.

Elimination of irrelevant Blue moves

Red has a couple of direct threats to connect, using smaller templates. Blue must play in the carrier of these threats in order to counter them. To prevent Red from connecting Blue must play in the intersection of Red's threats carriers.

Using the parallel ladder trick

6 moves can furthermore be discared thanks to the Parallel ladder trick. Of course, symmetry will cut our work in half!

We can dispose of 3 moves on the left (and, using mirror symmetry, the corresponding 3 moves on the right), as follows:

At this point, we can use the Parallel ladder trick as follows:

Remaining possibilities for Blue

Blue's first move must be one of the following:

Specific defence

For the moves that intersect all the carriers, Red has to find specific answers. Let's deal with the remaining intrusions!

The remaining intrusion on the fourth row

Red should move here:

This gives Red several immediate threats: From III1a:

From III1a again:

From IV1a:

From IV1b:

The intersection of all of these leaves:

So we must deal with each of these responses. (Which will not be too hard!)

To be continued....