Distance is only part of a move
In Sokoballs, balls need to reach switches. It is tempting to move whichever ball is nearest toward its target immediately. The missing question is what happens to your access afterward. A ball can be close to the destination while occupying the only route you need to finish another placement. Treat each proposed move as two changes: a new ball position and a new arrangement of usable space. Both need to support the rest of the puzzle.
Imagine the final approach
Choose a switch and picture the ball one step before it reaches that switch. Where would you need to stand or approach from to make that final movement? Now work backward one more step. If the imagined route requires passing through a wall or another ball, the approach is not ready. You may need to reposition another object first. This is a planning exercise, not a claim that every level uses the same layout or that the nearest ball must serve that switch.
A corridor example
Imagine two balls near a narrow passage with switches beyond it. Sending the first ball partway into the passage may look productive, but it can remove access to the second ball. Before committing, ask whether the first placement can be completed and whether the passage will remain usable afterward. If not, solve the ordering problem before the distance problem. The exact answer depends on the board; the useful habit is making the access question explicit rather than discovering the obstruction several moves later.
Use a restart as information
When a layout becomes unworkable, note the first move that removed an option. A restart is more useful when it tests a revised order than when it repeats the same sequence faster. If this version provides undo, use it to examine that decision; otherwise replay deliberately from the start. Set a small objective for the next attempt, such as keeping the central passage open until both balls have a planned route. Finishing the puzzle then becomes a result of preserved options rather than a lucky chain of moves.
