Dieter: This looks to me to be the main line. a is next self atari.
fractic: That was fast. I thought was a nice move.
at a would lead to a seki.
Dieter: indeed, is a nice move.
A lot of the complexity can be reduced by noticing that the points a and the points b are instances of miai. Only in the main line the solution involves something else, namely shortage of liberties.
fractic: Actually there is another shortage of liberties. If White has an extra liberty at as in this diagram he can live.