base case problem learning method

Problem 1: White to kill  

Most beginners can solve problem 1 with only a bit of thinking. But to become a strong player it is not enough to be able to solve such a basic problem; it must become a base case for a player to become strong.

Problem 3: White to kill  

Problems 2 and 3 are a bit more difficult for a beginner, but once they have solved these problems they may begin to recognize the situation in problem 1. If enough problems like problems 2 and 3 are solved, problem 1 will become a base case for that player.

After this, more problems could be solved that would build on problems 2 and 3, and eventually problems 2 and 3 would become base cases.

For best results such problems should be included in large problem sets so that these base cases are built in subconscious intuition rather than becoming conscious pattern recognition.

Black to kill  

This example demonstrates how a problem set could be used not only to incrementally teach two killing tesuji, but how to develop the base cases underlying those tesuji. Ideally, problem sets would be much larger and include many more tesuji to avoid memorization.