dave: and could be played in the opposite order. can't be at because of shortage of liberties. at would lose the top three white stones, but I haven't yet explored whether white can give them up and live anyway.
tapir: Yes, that's it. In the game I first had no stone at , when the opponent forced me to play there enabling the tesuji. Found it quite interesting to have a connect and die in the middle of the board.
Bill: How about first? If is at , Black cuts. :)
tapir: Well how much better is it? One point, or several threats starting with a?
Bill: Looks like both to me. :)
Andre Engels: I count not one but two points difference - b is black's sente, no?