Life is A Test 2: Test Harder (Quite A Bit Harder)

by Brony_of_Brody

The Answer 30

There's actually more than one strategy you could employ for this. Three, in actual fact, depending on where you start on the board.

It's easier to find a strategy assuming Fluttershy will not be playing optimally, because otherwise constantly second-guessing could lead you to a loss. Now, obviously, as you can't see Fluttershy's moves, you're going to have to lock her into blocking your plays to make her moves more predictable.

Let's label the squares from 1-9, as follows:

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9

The first strategy can be summarised as "start with 5, then move down the left-most branch on the diagram below. If you're blocked, move to the next branch along and so on". Coloured circles below represent draws, all others represent wins:

Here's a second strategy where you start with the corner square 1, following the same rules as the first diagram:

Finally, here's another strategy where you start with square 2, and then follow the steps going right, moving down if you're blocked:

Comments

[The Real Anonymous Pony]

I gotta say, your diagram is much easier to follow.