Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 30: White to play and live
玄玄棋经 · Problem 30 of 347 · Using the corner
White's stones look cut to pieces. The corner has special properties: look for a first-line move there that leaves White two follow-ups at once.
How to solve it
This problem is known as 'Strange and Farseeing' (奇遠). White's stones on the left are cut apart and surrounded. White starts with B15, and Black plays B17.
White's A18 is the tesuji: it makes use of the corner. If Black answers at B19, White plays A16, and A14 and E15 become miai.
If Black plays C16 instead, White answers at D17, and after Black's D15 White again plays A16.
Main line
- 1. White B15
- 2. Black B17
- 3. White A18
- 4. Black B19
- 5. White A16
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.