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BeginnerExercise2

 

Beginner Exercise 2 Solution
   

[Diagram]
Diag.: Solution

White can't play at a because of damezumari (shortage of liberties).

If white plays at 'b' then black answers at 'a'. White can capture black's stones, but that leaves her with a three in a row shape.

KarlKnechtel: See also TwoByThreeBox. Apparently this is a popular example now. :)



What if white plays somewhere else?

[Diagram]
Diag.: Variation

If white answers with 2 here, black plays 3. White would like to play at 3 as well, if black had played at 'a' or 'b'. Why?


[Diagram]
Diag.: Bulky five

Because if we add a white stone to the 2x3 square we get a shape called bulky five. And that shape can be killed by playing on that crucial "bottleneck" point, marked with a square.

KarlKnechtel: You mean the VitalPoint?


[Diagram]
Diag.: Bulky five (again)

So, After 1 & 2 in the variation diagram, we have a bulky five shape, with one point already occupied by black. However, the vital point marked with a square has not been played yet. That is why black plays at 3 next. (And that is why white trying to live with 2 in the first diagram seems like a good idea - but fails as well).

Try to memorize the bulky five shape. It occurs over and over again.



See also:




This is a copy of the living page "Beginner Exercise 2 Solution" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.