Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 55: White to play and live
玄玄棋经 · Problem 55 of 347 · Reducing liberties before the vital point
Do not start on the left. The black stones along the top have liberties to spare: take some away first, and then the vital point of White's own shape will work.
How to solve it
White's group on the left cannot live if White simply plays there. White first reduces the liberties of Black's stones along the top: M17, answered at M18, then L18 and L19, answered at K18 and K19.
Now F18 is the vital point. If Black plays G19, White plays E17, and after Black's E19, White's D19, Black's F19, White's H19 and Black's capture at J19, White's E18 secures life.
If Black answers F18 at E17 instead, White plays G19, and after Black's E19 and White's D19 the result is seki.
Main line
- 1. White M17
- 2. Black M18
- 3. White L18
- 4. Black K18
- 5. White L19
- 6. Black K19
- 7. White F18
- 8. Black G19
- 9. White E17
- 10. Black E19
- 11. White D19
- 12. Black F19
- 13. White H19
- 14. Black J19
- 15. White E18
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.