Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 1: White to play and escape
玄玄棋经 · Problem 1 of 347 · Breaking out of a net
White's stone looks surrounded, but the net is loose. Is there a quiet move that leaves Black unable to block both sides?
How to solve it
White's single stone at K11 is caught in a loose net of five black stones. The move that works is the plain extension to K10: it aims at the gaps on both sides at once.
If Black blocks at L9, White turns at J11 and pushes along the left side with H11 and G10. Black's thin stones cannot cover every cut, and White comes out at H9.
If Black blocks at K9 instead, White goes the other way with L11, K12 and M12 and comes out at M10.
Main line
- 1. White K10
- 2. Black L9
- 3. White J11
- 4. Black H12
- 5. White H11
- 6. Black G11
- 7. White G10
- 8. Black K12
- 9. White H9
Solution checked against Sensei's Library.
Play it out on the board
Place the stones yourself and see the refutation when you miss. All the Xuanxuan Qijing problems as quick lessons.