GokyoShumyoSection4Problem2/Attempts

attempt 1  

atulab: looks like the right way to take away white's liberties. I don't think that white has time to mess around by cutting at a, but maybe I'm missing something

Attempt 2 (failure)  

After , gives White enough liberties to win the capturing race.

Attempt 3  

It seems to me that black cannot block above:

Attempt 4 (failure)  

So black must atari the two stones and let white escape, obviously this will not be done immediately (white will save it for when he can actually escape) but the aji in this position is really bothering me. Am I misreading? Or am I just over-thinking the problem?