Sunday Problem #37

Published 14 Feb 2021 by antti (last edited 21 Feb 2021)

tags: tsumego, sunday-problem

This is a classic problem from Gokyō Shumyō. There are in fact two solutions, but they lead to the same final shape.

Black to play.

Solution

Solution (1)
Black can start with 1 or 5 – in either case, White responds with 2. Instead of 3, too, Black can first throw in at 5 without changing the outcome.
After 3, it will be clear that White cannot stop Black from living, and this instead becomes an endgame problem for White.

Solution (2)
By continuing the sequence up to 10, White can eventually capture two black stones. In reality, of course, White should play the 2–10 sequence only much later in the game.