Kyu Exercise 35 / Solution

Black plays first.  

If Black plays first, then ensures life and White cannot defend all of a, b and c simultaneously, so White dies.

White plays first

Ko?  

It should be obvious that the only hope White can get is to throw-in at for a ko.

Failure.  

If connects, then connects as well. Since White have too many liberties, Black cannot win the capturing race and have to fight the ko for life. Thus the status of the White group will hinge on the outcome of this ko as well. However, this is a failure for Black.

Solution.  

The solution is actually to push at and cut at .

Solution.  

When captures three Black stones, destroys the other eye in sente, and takes away the eye from the corner White group to win the capturing race there.

Black cannot play elsewhere.  

Note that in the previous diagram cannot play elsewhere, otherwise White plays and and wins the capturing race instead.

Variation.  

If , then can connect. Then White cannot approach the black group due to shortage of liberties, and Black finally captures, because the right white group is dead.

Variation.  

If captures the three Black stones, then destroys the other eye, and reverts to the solution diagrams.

Conclusion

The White group is dead.

Footnote

The solution is presented without the ko fighting for clarity, although it is better for Black to take the ko (where suitable) in practice.