Color Block Jam Route vs Shortcut: Choose the Safer Move

When is a shortcut real?

It is real when the block reaches its destination and the remaining board retains a valid route. Distance alone does not define efficiency; a shorter path that blocks the next color can require a restart.

How do you compare routes?

Inspect the landing space, shared lanes, and the next dependency for both options. Prefer the route with more recoverability when the board is ambiguous.

What should you optimize later?

Once the board is solved consistently, remove unnecessary setup moves. First prove the route; then refine efficiency without sacrificing the checkpoints that make it reliable.