Lucky's Problem / Solution

Sub-page of LuckysProblem

Question: Why doesn't a standard net work? What am I missing?

[Diagram]

standard net fails

HolIgor: B4 is forcing, so black escapes.


[Diagram]

White to play and capture two stones.

DaveSigaty: W1 loosely surrounds the two black stones. The WC stone is in just the right place to prevent Black from pushing out along the right side.

[Diagram]

Black tries to escape 1 (7 at 2)

If B1, White plays W2 and squeezes Black. W10 completes a nice symmetrical shape.

[Diagram]

Black tries to escape 2

If B1, the standard reply at W2 stops Black cold.

[Diagram]

Black tries to escape 3

This B1 seems the most interesting, but it looks like the combination of W2 and W4 prevents Black from getting away. If Black continues at B5, White throws in at W6 and catches Black short of liberties after W10.

However . . .

[Diagram]

Black tries to escape 3

Oops! This idea would work if Black co-operates. However, B7 instead puts White on the spot. Capturing at a and escaping at b are miai to save the stones.

[Diagram]

Black tries to escape 3

White has to be more careful and connect at W6 against B5. Now Black is again short of liberties after W10. If next Black at a, White plays b.

[Diagram]

Black tries to escape 3

If Black cuts at this B5 instead, White plays atari at W6. If Black captures, the throw in at W8 recreates the shortage of liberties. If Black connects at W8 instead of B7, White simply connects at B7.




Lucky

[Diagram]

White can also connect

Actually White can also connect at W6 in the previous diagram.

[Diagram]

First theme

When I composed this problem I wanted to find a position where WC works but the usual net doesn't. It was designed for low kyu players at the club.

[Diagram]

Great move

But I was very happy with W4. This makes it quite a difficult problem to get in your head.

[Diagram]

Hmmm...

I think I have further work to do on this position because W1 is still good and it should be bad :)

[Diagram]

Hmmm... 2

This result is better for White though she doesn't capture two stones.

[Diagram]

No good

And no, it's no good to move BC one line to the right.


[Diagram]

Suggestion

unkx80: How about changing the problem to this one? As far as I can see, this problem should work too, although the difficulty is increased a bit.

Lucky: This seems to work too :) And resolves the previous problem. Why do you think this position is more difficult?

[Diagram]

Variation

unkx80: In this variation, I think W5 is the only move here, which may be a kind of a blind spot.

Lucky: Well, I didn't check this variation :) I agree it might be a blind spot.

[Diagram]

Variation



Compared to the original problem, W9 must be played here instead, I believe. Playing at a turns it into a ko.

You may think otherwise about the difficulty? I don't know. =)

Lucky: True, I first found the ko and I was ready to conclude this variation doesn't work.

I don't know how problems can be rated. As with all amateurs, I know some positions (which therefore I find easy) and I don't know a lot of others (which I find difficult). I may solve a pro level problem if I have seen it before and go wrong with an amateur 5 kyu problem.


This is a copy of the living page "Lucky's Problem / Solution" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About