One Thousand and One Life-and-Death Problems / Problem 752 - Mannenko Discussion

Black to play  

Bill: Correct play depends on who is komaster.

Black komaster  

When Black is komaster he lives with Black 1. Later White 4 - Black 7 is sente.

White komaster (1)  

When White is komaster she will continue with White 2 - Black 5, as Mike suggests.

White komaster (2)  

Now White 1 - 3 makes a 10,000 year ko shape in the corner.

White komaster (3)  

As a rule Black should bite the bullet and make the ko right away. In exchange for the ko he gets to play Black 6 elsewhere. If he waits for White to make the ko he will normally get less in exchange.

kb: Bill, is "Black should play the ko immediately" still true if Black has the ability to play and generate some large ko threats somewhere else - e.g. in order to change komaster status?