Capturing Race Exercise 11 / Solution
Qi: White wins the race.
ChrisSchack: Doesn't status imply either player might move first, and part of the question is if either side needs a move? Looks to be unsettled, whoever plays first wins.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/33/89179cb37cacfbae6ad725ae4eef84e7.png)
White first
Dieter: That's right. If White goes first, it becomes a fight between two "blind" groups. White has one liberty more - an outside liberty in fact - making him the favourite and capture Black.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/9/d9c787e8e55d47003b006c5833752b30.png)
Black first
If Black goes first, he decides the liberty race in his favour.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/44/110057f435a0e8acf60aa7fa5843211a.png)
"Hidden liberty"
Bill: It is worth pointing out that a is a liberty for Black, in the sense that if White had a stone there she could escape or capture.
Dieter: Right. Which goes to show that liberties is a "case-sensitive" concept. Can we rephrase the above as "... escape AND kill" ?
Bill: Rephrased. :-)