:: Igo Hatsuyôron 120 (2021)

Variations of Our Solution (Ib)

KataGo's 2021 Solution

VAR (.3) (.4)

: ( 58dc)
White gives atari at Black's three stones at the upper edge, so continuing with the Main Semeai.

:
As a matter of course, Black has to connect.

: (149 58dn)
In order to simplify the presentation, we start immediately with the mutual occupation of opponent's liberties, choosing moves that close a hole in the border of the respective territory.

In principle, it would be technically correct to insert White's kikashi at in the lower left corner before, as well as her kikashi at in the left centre.

Please be aware that it would be still a mistake to destroy even a single point of Black's potential territory at the left side of the board.

:
Black occupies another liberty of White's left-hand group.

If Black played at (followed by , , ) or at (followed by , , , , ), instead, he would gain one point outside the Main Semeai area, and so benefit in the Semeai Variation by two points.
But - in principle - Black would not have got the chance to do so, as White have had the opportunity to play at and earlier (see commentary above).

; :
We play White's kikashi at the left side of the board "late".

Black plays 0/1 reduction.

Capture Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

  • Black got an additional three points of territory in the left centre.
  • Black did not destroy two points of White's territory in the upper right corner.
  • White captured Black's stone in the lower right, so gaining two points.

In total, White gained one point.

White + 1 => White + 2

Semeai Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

  • Black got an additional two points of territory in the left centre.
  • Black captured three White stones less in the left centre, so losing five points.
  • White captured two Black stones less in the upper right corner, so losing two points.
  • White captured one Black stone less in the lower right, so losing two points.

In total, White lost one point.

White + 1 => Jigo

Copyright © 2021 Thomas Redecker.

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