Home > Steve > Go > Problem of the month

December 2003's Go Answer of the Month


Dia 1 Status

Dia 1

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.

Dia 2

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.

Dia 3   Dia 4

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.

Dia 5   Dia 6

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

Dia 7 White needs to try something else.

Dia 7

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 8

Dia 9 But this 2 solves Black's problems.

Dia 9

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