Do the best you can with Blue and Red.
The .blksgf with the problem is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/09BeginnerPacking3/BeginnerPacking3-problem.blksgf)
The .blksgf with the solution is here (link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27727822/Puzzles/09BeginnerPacking3/BeginnerPacking3-solution.blksgf)
I would suggest to provide the score of the solution immediately with the puzzle. Then you know when you solved the puzzle without having to wait for the solution.
Good idea, I will start doing this for future puzzles.
I disagree.
It can be part of the puzzle to figure out what IS the best result.
And someone might, on rare occasions, top your solution,
so posting such a clue might be misleading
and discourage someone from “giving it more tries”.
I believe this has in fact occurred on Puzzle #8.
I see that Eric has settled on a good compromise:
include the hint, but hide it from immediate view.