GSATE problem 142

Or, if he preferred, White could ignore 1 and capture at 2, creating an even more complicated life and death/ko situation.  

Can anyone shed some light on this? What /is/ the best black response after 1 in the first diagram?

- antic

 

Dieter: After , the corner is ko and Black can capture first. This is a success.

For comparison  

If Black plays a hane connect twice, he has wasted the potential of the position. He takes two points (at most) in sente and robs points from White, but the potential damage to either side of White's position, done by the ko and even though ko, is much greater.