Talk:Swap rule

Does anybody know when the swap rule was introduced?

Swapping the A column?

It has occurred to me to doubt the wisdom of swapping most of the left- or right-most columns. I'm just thinking about the templates and how they can block the opening move.

For example, on an 11x11 board, A4 is marked as a probable winner, but the bridge template played at B5 seems to be a good block and when I work it out, A4 seems to lose. There are also template moves at C5 (ziggurat), and some fourth and fifth-row templates that seem promising.

Comments?