Beginner Exercise 246 / Solution

Solution.  

connects the three stones outside, as shown by the exchange of and . Now and are miai, so White has only eye at the side.

Failure.  

The usual block at fails, because it allows the dual-purpose move of . It threatens capturing the three Black stones at as well as making the second eye at .

Failure.  

tries to apply the first-line large knight's move connection technique, but to captures one Black stone and lives.

Failure.  

tries the other diagonal. However, is sente and forcing if Black insists on the kill. Now after and , can atari.

Failure.  

This variation does not kill either. The variations after is left as a reading exercise.

Another attempt  

While white cannot run, can she kill the black stones in the corner after this? Or is there a better option for her?

xela: is a mistake. See the next diagram.

Failure for black  

This could be a better option. Black can start squeezing at a, but I don't think that Black can manage to live inside with two eyes, and it seems to me that white can win the capturing race (not entirely sure though, looks complicated, maybe Black can get seki? Anyway, the connection in the solution is certainly better and simpler).

xela: Yes, I'm pretty sure that white wins the capturing race. I won't add variations, because there's a lot of options, and it takes us too far away from the idea of beginner exercise. I'll just point out that white has a lot of outside liberties.