diff --git a/1991/rince/Makefile b/1991/rince/Makefile
index 681278ff1..5dcb45555 100644
--- a/1991/rince/Makefile
+++ b/1991/rince/Makefile
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ ARCH=
 
 # Defines that are needed to compile
 #
-CDEFINE= -DMAX_MOVES=484
+CDEFINE= -DMAX_MOVES=${MAXMOVES}
 
 # Include files that are needed to compile
 #
@@ -137,11 +137,13 @@ ${PROG}: ${PROG}.c
 alt: data ${ALT_TARGET}
 	@${TRUE}
 
+# variable to control max number of moves
+MAXMOVES=484
 ${PROG}.alt: ${PROG}.alt.c
 	${CC} ${CFLAGS} $< -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
 
 ${PROG}2.alt: ${PROG}.alt2.c
-	${CC} ${CFLAGS} $< -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
+	${CC} ${CFLAGS} -DMAX_MOVES=${MAXMOVES} $< -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
 
 # data files
 #
diff --git a/1991/rince/README.md b/1991/rince/README.md
index f936ed236..7ed7df087 100644
--- a/1991/rince/README.md
+++ b/1991/rince/README.md
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@ that's fewer than the original program.
 
 The first alternate version, [rince.alt.c](rince.alt.c), disables a maximum move
 count so that anyone with enough patience and time can complete the puzzle,
-without having to worry about how many moves they make. The second version,
-[rince.alt2.c](rince.alt2.c), allows one to reconfigure at compilation the
-maximum number of moves, even if that is lowering the count.
+without having to worry about how many moves they make, assuming they don't get
+stuck. The second version, [rince.alt2.c](rince.alt2.c), allows one to
+reconfigure at compilation the maximum number of moves, even if that is lowering
+the count.
 
 The author set the maximum number of moves to 484.
 
@@ -39,12 +40,13 @@ restrictions in the number of movements and the second one, `rince.alt2`, has a
 configurable maximum number of moves allowed, defaulting to the entry's max,
 484.
 
-To reconfigure the maximum number of moves:
+To reconfigure the maximum number of moves to 700:
 
 ```sh
-make clobber CDEFINE+="-DMAX_MOVES=5" alt
+make clobber MAXMOVES=700 alt
 ```
 
+
 ### Alternate use:
 
 To run the first alt version: