Dieters Mistakes In 2022 / Problem 33 - Bugcat's Idea

bugcat: All of the suggested options allow the integrity of the upper centre to be compromised. I didn't want to allow that. I suggest this hardnosed defence.

If Black attacks at c in the stem diagram, we can first exchange - . Black can't block at tengen because of the ladder.

 

Now, though, I'm not really sure what I want to do. I'd like to force this battle, but it does feel a bit crude. White has moves in the x zone but it's hard to time them.

It'd be elegant to begin with , since the white follow up at is strong. But then Black can connect at and White's counterplay seems to have been reduced.