Beginner Exercise 29 / Solution

Solution  

The solution is to make a clamp at , threatening both a snapback at a as well as connecting underneath at b. Note that after , White at c or d would be self-atari.

Solution  

If defends the snapback, then captures, easy-peasy.

Solution  

may also descend here or play at a or b, but can make a snapback on the six White stones.

Inferior  

may be answered by making an atari at to win, but it is less efficient and gives White more ko threats. After captures two stones, both Black and White has two liberties each...

Inferior (continued)  

wins the capturing race by one move.

Failure

Failure  

The atari at is wrong. When White plays the hane at , Black is stuck and is unable to make an approach move at a, which is a self-atari.

Note that although is wrong, this failure diagram merits additional discussion. See Kyu Exercise 12 for more.

Failure  

The hane at is also a mistake, because can make an eye. After , prevents an eye for Black. Just as the previous failure, Black loses by eye versus no eye.