Tsumego From Games 9 / Playing Sagari

Death in the descent?  

There may be death in the hane, but White's descent adds more than one liberty. Black cannot approach from the left.

Nice try  

White wins the semeai.

The kosumi offers stout resistance.

Black dies  

( at )

looks reasonable. But after , what can Black do? is atari, leaving Black no time to make a second eye. Through , Black is dead.

Shape, but ...  

makes shape, but ...

White still wins  

is a sacrifice to prevent at a.

The block perhaps offers stouter resistance.

White crawls in  

Black now has a few choices.

White wins again (i)  

( at )

After makes an eye in the corner, - is a squeeze. The placement of prevents ko.

White wins again (ii)  

Black can prevent the squeeze by connecting.

Black connects, but . . .  

After does Black stand a chance? If at , at .

Can Black prevail against the descent?

-- Bill Spight