Beginner Exercise 148 / Solution

Sub-page of BeginnerExercise148
[Diagram]

Black to play.

After B1, White is left without two eyes.



B1 threatens to capture the three white stones to the left of B1. White can not form two eyes without these stones. White must connect these stones to the rest of the White group using a or prevent Black from capturing these stones by playing W2, which makes a Black attempt to capture the stones by playing at a a self-atari.

Unfortunately for White, neither White a nor W2 make life. W2 threatens to make a second eye with W3, but B3 prevents that.

The key to the problem is the first rule of killing groups: Examine a play at the eye-point.

Bill: No, that's the third rule for killing groups. The first rule is to reduce the space for making eyes. See Hane, Cut, Placement.


[Diagram]

Black failure

Brent: For a while I had convinced myself that B1 worked as well, but then realized that it doesn't, so I thought I'd add a failure diagram to show why. After B1 White cannot connect at a because of shortage of liberties. However, W2 solves White's problems. White threatens to now connect at a and live, so...

[Diagram]

Black failure, continued

...Black must capture there instead. But now White plays W4 and lives: playing at b in an attempt to falsily an eye would be auto-atari for Black. So Black must connect out first, giving White the chance to play at b and solidify the second eye.

[Diagram]

White failure

unkx80: W2 doesn't solve the problem, B3 kills. After which, a and b are miai.

[Diagram]

White lives

However, W2 lives.



[Diagram]

Snapback

W4 at white+circle.

Bill: Now if Black plays B1 in an attempt to take away White's eye at a, W2 - W4 captures Black's stones with a snapback.

Brent: Oops. Looks like I was right but for the wrong reason. (= Thanks.


[Diagram]

White lives

This also works. Therefore, by "problem principles" alone, one can deduce that the correct solution is at the other key point. ilan

[Diagram]

Black kills,no analysis required

[Diagram]

Does not work either.

Unfortunately, this does not work either. --unkx80


Ooops, forgot about the right hand side. I die an ignominious death. ilan



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