Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 243 / Attempts

Black to play  

xela: Can black connect out with ?

Variation 1a  

xela: This is ko? Edit: silly me, no ko, white a puts two stones into atari. I guess this counts as a failed attempt then :-/

Variation 2  

xela: I've no idea what happens next, but I bet it's interesting!

The easy bit (ii)  

xela: If at a, black still plays ; white dies either way.

Black to play  

fractic: unkx80 gave away the first move. It looks passive but it works. is the most tricky answer and I think is the only move. After Black can capture either or . If is played one space to the right then Black can rescue by just playing ataris.

Black to play  

fractic: If then Black ataris his way out. Notice the importance of the liberty at .

Black to play  

fractic: leads to a variation similar to the first. White ends up with a whole bunch of false eyes.

Dieter came up with about the same responses.