Same than Devil for me: stuck 2 off and not seeing how to cut...
** 2 years later **
Got it! For me the trick was to take a 2 years break from it. I came back to it today and got it on 2nd try. :D
Wow, that one was strange for me. At first, I was far away and couldn't seem to find a cut. I took a break. Today, I came back to it and was 4 off on first try... Then 2 off and winning. I can't even recall how I did to be so far the day before... LOL
At first, I was scared, because I thought it would be another pipelining stuff where I will once more remain 2 off for infinity and beyond... :D
Then I started, was miles away, then 98 and like Alazeh, 96 followed by winning. Good one really.
This level was hard to me. I'm never comfortable when several intricated routes lead to 2 off. So, suddenly, I cut 2 steps but I can honestly not tell how this happened... LOL
When I reached a 2 off, I have been afraid to remain stuck for ever there. I took a deep breath and did focus on ************************************************************** and one try won. Challenging one for me.
Nice level! I was 2 off on first try and sure that it can't be optimized. So I immediately searched for something else, probably counter intuitive and I found it, but I needed some time to make it work LOL
I look at it and thought: one more where I will remain stuck for ever... With cold feet, I did study before to start and was lucky to notice something that gave me the way to do it. I tried it and was 4 off on first try. Optimization followed logically. Yeah! Such fun!