Beginner Exercise 14 / Solution

Problem diagram  

The shape looks like a dogleg four, with a and b miai for life. But it's incomplete yet - Black has no stone at c.

Solution

shortage of liberties  

! and prevents Black from playing at c because of shortage of liberties.

continued: White kills  

White reaches the point and kills.

Can White kill this way?  

first does not work, since saves the black group (this is Black's only move!). Note that playing to capture at a is wrong, since then at falsifies black's eye.