in reply to How To Do This Better?

The code by ahunter is still the fastest:
chromatic "52" : 27 secs (25.76 usr 0.04 sys = 25.80 cpu) NoGrooTwo+ahunter : 17 secs (16.72 usr 0.04 sys = 16.76 cpu) japhy 1 : 16 secs (13.84 usr 0.04 sys = 13.88 cpu) japhy 2 : 12 secs (11.71 usr 0.07 sys = 11.78 cpu) ahunter : 5 secs ( 4.65 usr 0.00 sys = 4.65 cpu) ahunter+turnstep : 3 secs ( 3.62 usr 0.03 sys = 3.65 cpu)