PracticalEndgameTest5/Solution

Path: <= Practical Endgame Tests =>

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As Arno pointed out, there are some miai on the board. The challenge is to get tedomari.

is the point. Although and are miai, dominates, for reasons that will become apparent.

Failure 1

and are miai. Now is the key to getting tedomari.

Failure 2

Next Black takes his sente with - .

gets tedomari, just barely. If White responds on the top side before then, Black can make a play in the bottom left corner and get jigo.

If White had played at in the previous diagram, Black could have responded in the bottom left corner and gotten tedomari.

Now Black and White share the final miai.

White wins by 1.

Arno posted a solution. From his comments, I gather that Dave had one in mind, too. :-)

Dave: see Discussion

The point of this problem is not widely known. In fact, taking the three stones in the top left dominates for Black, as well. The book said that was worth slightly less than . It even suggested counting it as 1/2 point less. That goes too far, OC, but in 1980 nobody understood go infinitesimals.

For more about the comparison of miai in this problem, see /Difference Games.

-- Bill Spight

Failure 1

and are miai, but White takes the wrong one.

Since the top side is settled, Black can take his sente with - and then get tedomari with .

Result: Jigo.

Return

Failure 2

White gets off to the right start, but is the wrong play to get tedomari. Such blocking plays lose at least a tempo unless they are played in response to sente. (See atomic weight.)

Black takes his sente with - and then gets tedomari with .

Result: Jigo.

Return

Path: <= Practical Endgame Tests =>

PracticalEndgameTest5/Solution last edited by Bill on August 15, 2008 - 01:47

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