use strict;

my %h = (a1 => 1);

my $test = "a1 to a2";

if ($test =~ /([a-hA-H][1-8]\s*)to(\s*[a-hA-H][1-8])/)
{
	print "test work\n"; 
}

print "x$h{$1}x\n"; #print nothing
print "x$h{a1}x\n"; #print 1

print "x$1x\n"; #print "a1"

##</code><code>##

test work
xx
x1x
xa1 x