Why does blue 20 go before the pink cards on Level 217?

Blue begins clearing the portrait shadows and creates a draining bay for pink 18 and dark 16 instead of trapping them behind the pink field.

When should cyan 23 be used?

After the portrait centre has opened and the pink routes are short, so its small shoulder region is not isolated by the frame colours.

Colony Flow! level guide

hard 8 colors

Start blue 20, pink 18 and dark 16 as a draining trio, then route the remaining pink portrait field around blue, cream and cyan detail cards.

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Colors in this level:

Pink, Purple, Blue, Dark, Cream, Cyan, White, Yellow

Board notes 5 details

Layout: A pink-and-purple portrait with cream face blocks, charcoal hair/background, blue-violet shadows, cyan shoulder accents and a lower-left yellow key. Opening cards include cream 15, blue 15, pink 18, blue 20, pink 20, dark 16, cyan 23, pink 14 and white 12.
Goal: Clear the portrait face, dark frame, cyan accents and yellow key until no pixel blocks remain.
Opening: Tap blue 20, then pink 18 and dark 16; bring in the second blue 20 only after that three-colour group is draining.
Danger Zone: Starting pink 18, pink 20 and pink 14 together fills the bays needed for dark 16 and leaves the charcoal frame locked behind fresh pink traffic.
Mechanics: Portrait board with a large repeated pink region, solved by alternating pink waves with blue and dark frame routes.

Why does blue 20 go before the pink cards on Level 217?
Blue begins clearing the portrait shadows and creates a draining bay for pink 18 and dark 16 instead of trapping them behind the pink field.
When should cyan 23 be used?
After the portrait centre has opened and the pink routes are short, so its small shoulder region is not isolated by the frame colours.