Beginner Exercise 129 / Solution

Solution  

, atari the two stones. If White connects at a, White dies in gote.

Solution  

After , a and b are miai, so the white group has only one eye.

Variation - wrong  

White might play hane at in order to play in sente. If black gives the usual answer, a and b are miai for life. If is answered with white would have a chance to escape at .

Variation - correct  

One of the correct responses is throw-in at to reduce eyespace. After , a and b are miai for black to kill.

( at also kills.)

Failure 1  

is safely met by - Black has no inside tricks. This secures the largest territory, though later Black a will be sente. at b or c lives with less points, without giving the sente move at a.

Failure 2  

allows White to play atari in the direction of .

Failure 2 variation  

Atari at is a blunder. After , White cannot play at a, so White is dead.

Failure 3  

White lives easily.