Home > Steve > Go > Problem of the month

December 2003's Go Answer of the Month

Dia 1 Status

This situation occurred in a club game between kyu players - so it is real rather than bookish. What is the status here?

This was also used as the problem on the 2003 West Surrey Handicap Tournament entry form.

Dia 2 Black can easily live.

With 1, Black gets at least one eye in the corner and one at the 4-3 point since the 'A's are miai. (This may not be the optimal move for Black, but it is sufficient to show Black playing first has no worries.

Dia 3 & 4 The 3-2 point looks interesting.

Black captures four stones in a row with 8, but having taken them off with 10 White replays 11 as an under the stones tesuji and Black dies.

Playing 6' at 7 doesn't work either. White plays 7' at 6, Black 8' captures and White 9' throws in at 11 to kill.

Dia 5 & 6 Black needs to find a better move 2.

And this 2 appears to do the trick. Black survives against either White 3 shown here.

Dia 7 White needs to try something else.

This is back to Dia 6, ok for Black. Note that had Black played 2' at 5, it would have reverted to the under the stones Dia 3.

Dia 8 A different White 3 leads to a seki.

Dia 9 But this 2 solves Black's problems.

The status appears to be: "Black can live". At least that is what I have found with these diagrams. Do you know better?

Home > Steve > Go > Problem of the month
British Go Association
Last updated 2004-08-10
This page is part of http://www.stocton.org/
Email: webmaster@stocton.org