Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 2: White to play and live
玄玄棋经 · Problem 2 of 347 · The clamp
Three stones on the second line have no room for eyes. Look at Black's blocking stone at the end of the row: can White make use of it?
How to solve it
White's three stones on the second line (B18 to D18) are blocked by the black stone at E18 and have no room for two eyes as they stand. The tesuji is the clamp at F18, on the far side of that blocking stone.
If Black answers at E17 or F17, White plays E19 on the first line underneath the clamped stone.
If Black descends to E19, White pushes out at E17 and E16 and then turns back to the corner with B16. In the published main line White ends up alive there.
Main line
- 1. White F18
- 2. Black E17
- 3. White E19
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.