Quick Questions
Can Black Kill? [#3077]
What is the best possible outcome for Black?
![[Diagram]](diagrams/39/052dd95352f85344db8a2dc0376efc31.png)
Thanks! I think you are right. I did not find that move in my actual game. -Dent
![[Diagram]](diagrams/31/8e973d343ea7b0bf1946dc11c2cea905.png)
This looks like white lives, but is 5 necessary to kill? If black connects in the corner with 5, can white make two eyes on the right? I would guess that maybe white 6 at 5 would then be alive?
In the actual game, I played 1 at 3 (hane) with the obvious response at 6, then 3 at either 4 or 5(?) I eventually killed but I am convinced white made mistakes. Both white and I were (are) low level players.
I would guess that maybe white 6 at 5 would then be alive?
Dieter: I could answer this but I think it is better for you to read it out then make a firm statement.
What happens after White's descent is indeed a cool kyu-level problem.
![[Diagram]](diagrams/22/5b71d9d637c653b10810d1bd96fa7711.png)
The first thing to note is that if Black saves his corner stones with 
, White will be able to live on the right.
![[Diagram]](diagrams/35/5509faea0d204a9a99e1c91d545cbfae.png)
More interesting is to note that even with 
, White doesn't have an eye in the corner yet : Black can fill with 
at 
, then 
captures and 
can be at again.
![[Diagram]](diagrams/17/a1d45b1e25e35f41ac6cd66d6f63cff9.png)
Now Black threatens to play 
and remove the eye in the corner (after White captures the two stones Black throws-in at again and it's a false eye), therefore White must play at herself to complete the eye — in gote.
Thus to live she must first complete a first eye in sente on the right. I let you figure out if that's possible ;)
p.s. For , Black should also try the hane (at a in the second diagram). Always try the hane ! :p
Okay, I'll give it a shot...
![[Diagram]](diagrams/19/4d10ae7380982481b96d1b572fc1ced3.png)
connects at 'a', 
at 'b' makes two eyes, one at E19 where black is eventually captured and one at F18. Black at b just loses the corner group and white must eventually capture the invading stones for a second eye.
![[Diagram]](diagrams/11/6845b64945252c253befe31b4133371a.png)
![[Diagram]](diagrams/29/9df7f24d868737169ff289465dbfdb67.png)
Yep, that's what I read. :)
Now regarding the Hane — following the proverb Hane, Cut, Placement, the hane is usually a working killing technique.
![[Diagram]](diagrams/49/4b28589432a54553c771647fda5404e9.png)
lives, because White's able to make a second eye at either a or b.
![[Diagram]](diagrams/37/16b699009257f080ba7dcaca565a70db.png)
Black can't play a
Finally, given that white's alive and the clamp is bound to be gote, I think that this is the correct endgame play.
![[Diagram]](diagrams/3/82a6c313bda836678b10bebba620081e.png)
![[Diagram]](diagrams/3/1ee60bbe8a3a1ff9f932f57f34570571.png)
![[Diagram]](diagrams/1/e9d35a70d3a6e0e74e39561124a5003c.png)
and create a lot of trouble...
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