Even if Black starts, Snowwhite can escape to one of the marked points.
Black is off to a good start with , but
is a clever response making miai.
Black 3 blocks one way, but just heads for the opposite direction.
is forced and White makes miai again with
. Rest of sequence is forced.
--Arno
Well, apart from the fact that I think black would be better off starting on one of the points where is in the diagram, you appear to be right.
-- uXs
JamesA: Doesn't Snow White take less casualties this way (I think it looks simpler as well... just personal preference!)
tderz: just for clarity: if Black blocks after ,
White can play (or a+c or b+c etc.).
Bill: Or White has a ladder. ;-)
tderz: if Black blocks at the inside, White gets a ponnuki.
tderz: Black better prolongs the game ...
tderz: Black better prolongs the game ...
tderz: ... and now?
What is the real continuation?
2 years ago, I posed this problem as a miai exercise for our beginners in the club up to 15 kyu at that time. I created a PDF which I hope to link somewhat later here, and remember that White has to be careful!. This doubling of moves - say a super-nobi was not equal to the strategy wher white constantly makes miai of the mirror symmetry points, i.e. constantly spreads in different directions (e.g. in dia (6) above) and puts her stones on the junctions between the bamboos (i.e. the
here and
,
in diagram (1) but not
,
,
, but then always! uXs pointed that out already).
This would work on an indefinite board, but this doubling strategy here would not! (I still might be mistaken).
Perhaps I have created an SGF of my former trials and can retrieve it.
JoelR: I take Bill's ladder to be the definitive answer to "what happens if Black blocks on the 4th line". But it's worth pointing out that Black has to be careful in other ways: The bamboo joint may be short of liberties.
tderz: Good point indeed. This diagram shows that
(as
,
and
) in dia (2) where mistakes, because one does not need to take liberties of a group which you would like to contain. (Because it also costs your own liberties).
Black
could be played at a (dia (2)), for the other moves, the junctions b, c and d might be more advisable as addressed above.
tderz: I would like to try a Systematic approach here,
Case I: Black starts, .
Contrary to the initial remark of s.o. above, it might make a difference.
tderz: White did not succeed (reach the 4th line with the center chain)
tderz: I display it as =tenuki, for better detection of any difference. The white numbers the remain the same (and I can copy the diagram :-) ).
tderz: seems no difference, because capturing does not help White,
but the left in dia (3) is not placed optimal, it is not forming miai with the center stone, only for connection with the left
.
Playing a ladder, white can win with a-a(cf. below [8].
Ed?: White's moves at are unnecessary, this allows black to kill with
at
Playing
at 'b' and
sets up a ladder immediately.
tderz: Hence, the quest for a solution continues...
Ed?: Playing
at 'a' and to the right of 'a' sets up a ladder immediately.
tderz: this is too fast, too easy ...
tderz: Black connects at a, White lost.
If the problem is constructed in such a way that the edge is at e, White might succeed (Black could be captured).
tderz: Playing a ladder seems possible ...
tderz: [8] Playing a ladder, white wins.
BillSpight: I think that both James' and uXs' ideas are interesting. :-)