Five stones on the third line in the corner
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Go Proverbs Illustrated says that this shape is alive. Since I don't have the book, I'm not sure whether that means living with points or living in seki. What's the status of this group if Black plays first?
--MrTenuki
fractic: I'm not a dan player but I've taken a look at this position. I think Black can get a ko or a seki. I would like a stronger player to take a look at this because some variations get rather complicated.
fractic: I think and
are the strongest resistance. Black can't play
at a because then white pushes out once more before playing b. So White can play a and play a ko. The ko is quite risky for Black too.
Anonymous: What happens if W plays directly at 'b' instead of setting up the ko? I spent a while with variations but can't find a way for B to kill.
fractic: Black descends with .
to Black a is one way to reach a ko or seki for white. I thought the previous diagram was stronger resistance because blocking with
is a bit unnatural but if White is allowed to push twice all the variations involving this descent don't work because white gets an extra liberty.
Note that if White makes seki now the count is 2 points better for Black than it would have been if Black had played hane tsugi at and
.
Anonymous: Yes, I considered the descent for B. But I couldn't find a refutation for . A couple of variations follow.
fractic: I think you are right. I just completely missed when I first analyzed this. Perhaps
is wrong..
Anonymous: The best defense I could find for W.
Andy Pierce: I think this is a stronger attack for black. There are lots of variations, but black can get a ko. It's often better to do the straight connected descent than to try the hane and owe a patch up move at the descent spot later.
xela: Can you show some variations? All I can see is seki.
fractic: I don't think works. White should take the vital point right away.
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