Ladder escape template
A ladder escape template is a pattern that can be used as a ladder escape, that is a way of connecting a ladder to an edge. For example a stone on a second row will escape a second row ladder. Let's see this in action.
When Red's ladder reaches the second row stone on the right, Red will be able to connect to the bottom edge, as follows:
Edge templates can often be used as ladder escape templates and most of the examples below will look familiar to people who know their edge templates.
There is a technical page on the theory of ladder escapes; this is not necessary for beginners, who just need to recognise basic ladder escapes and how to use them.
Below, the template's carrier is shown in gray, and the projected ladder path in pink.
Contents
Second row ladders
All of the common edge templates are valid. For instance:
Template II
Template IVa
Third row ladders
Templates II, IIIa, and IVa are valid.
Fourth row ladders
Template IIIa
Template IIIa is valid.
Template IVa
Also template IVa is valid if you can double bridge to the escape piece as follows.
Red can jump ahead to the escape template by playing at the marked cell.