GokyoShumyoSection4Problem5/Solution

Reference  

For reference, the problem here obviously is that the two white stones have only 3 liberties, while the black have 4. If White plainly reduces them, Black wins the race. White must use the weakness at a and the special properties of the corner, also known as strange things happen at the 1-2 point.

Solution

Main line  

is a common way (one might say tesuji) to increase liberties in a fight in the corner.

First, it increases the liberties of the chain itself from 3 to 4. More importantly, creates an approach liberty at a which Black must fill if he wants to eat the liberties on that line, which he won't do, because a is an inside liberty. and create another such liberty at b. If Black wants to start from this side, he must play b first to avoid auto-atari.

So, the circled liberties and b add to 4 liberties, then reduces Black to 3.

Variation  

If Black patches the weakness, wins the capturing race.

Failure

Ko  

here is a crude way to use the Black weakness. The result is a ko.