Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 11: Black to play and kill
玄玄棋经 · Problem 11 of 347 · First-line hane and cut
White has room for one eye in the corner. Where would the second one come from? Shrink that space from the edge, then look for a cut.
How to solve it
This problem is known as 'Beautifully Managed' (妙持). White has one eye in the corner and needs a second one along the top edge. Black starts from the edge with the hane at D19, the tesuji, and White extends to E18.
Black blocks at F18. If White plays E19, Black cuts at C18: three white stones are in atari, and White has no time to cut at C17.
White's stronger resistance is C19. Black plays C17, White connects at C18, and Black plays E19. White captures two stones with F19, but Black plays back at E19 and White is left with only the eye in the corner.
Cutting at C18 on move 3, or even on move 1, also kills. Starting with C17 or E18 fails: White answers at C18 or D19.
Main line
- 1. Black D19
- 2. White E18
- 3. Black F18
- 4. White E19
- 5. Black C18
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.