Beginner Exercise 177 / Solution

Solution  

First, makes a tiger shape, and then throws-in to make a ko.

Comment  

(Note that this is not a low risk ko (so-called "flower-viewing ko"") - if White loses the ko, the loss is quite substantial.)

Variation  

If prevents the ko, then destroys the eye and kills.

Failure

Failure  

The descent at fails. The cut at is tesuji, and Black gains sente to live at . Now White cannot approach at a and capture the three Black stones.

Failure  

here is useless.

Failure  

The connection at fails. After makes the second eye, White is unable to play at a, so Black wins the capturing race at the top.

Failure  

captures the stone at the corner and lives.