Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 60: White to play and kill
玄玄棋经 · Problem 60 of 347 · Placement and playing back in
Black's eye space is thin in the middle. One placement works, and every other first move lets Black live. Expect to give up four stones and play back where they stood.
How to solve it
White's placement at D18 kills. If this stone gets out, Black's group does not have enough eye space, so Black has to stop it from the first line, at D19 or C19.
If Black plays D19, White extends to E19. Black's C19 keeps the two white stones from escaping, and White plays E18. Black plays D17, White plays F19, and Black captures four stones with G19. But White plays back at E18: Black is short of liberties and the group is dead.
If Black plays C19 instead, White's E18 is enough: the five black stones on the right are dead.
Every other first move fails. White's C19 or E19 is answered at D18, White's E18, F19 or G19 at E19, and White's D19 or D17 at C19, and Black lives.
Main line
- 1. White D18
- 2. Black D19
- 3. White E19
- 4. Black C19
- 5. White E18
- 6. Black D17
- 7. White F19
- 8. Black G19
- 9. 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.