diff --git a/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/phase.py b/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/phase.py
index 3a196fb..627d590 100644
--- a/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/phase.py
+++ b/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/phase.py
@@ -102,9 +102,14 @@ def step2_attempts(events: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> int:
 
     A ``fail`` (the list read as code, or named an operation) never reaches
     the checker, so it has no ``req_check``; a ``partial`` does, and is
-    already counted there. CLI and app count one file alike.
+    already counted there. CLI and app count one file alike. A force
+    repeats the last try's grade but is not a try, so it is not counted.
     """
-    fails = sum(1 for e in _step2_grades(events) if e.get("grade") == "fail")
+    fails = sum(
+        1
+        for e in _step2_grades(events)
+        if e.get("grade") == "fail" and e.get("forced") is not True
+    )
     return req_state(events).tries + fails
 
 
diff --git a/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/tests/test_app_events.py b/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/tests/test_app_events.py
index 47b75fa..a547f3d 100644
--- a/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/tests/test_app_events.py
+++ b/leetcode_coach/leetcode_coach/tests/test_app_events.py
@@ -84,6 +84,16 @@ def test_step_two_attempts_count_incomplete_lists_and_fail_grades() -> None:
     assert phase.step2_attempts(events) == 3
 
 
+def test_a_force_is_not_a_step_two_try() -> None:
+    """A force repeats the last try's grade (`fail`); it is no try itself.
+
+    Measured against the live relay 2026-10-23: three named-a-tool fails and
+    a force showed ``attempts: 4`` in the state.
+    """
+    fails = [_grade(2, "fail"), _grade(2, "fail"), _grade(2, "fail")]
+    assert phase.step2_attempts([*fails, _grade(2, "fail", forced=True)]) == 3
+
+
 def _gate(log: Path, answers: list[bool] | None = None) -> phase.PhaseGate:
     asked: list[str] = []