: ( 648kv)
White plays atari in the upper left centre.

Please note that the following sequences and explanations are not affected by the existence of Black's previous kikashi , in the hanezeki.

:
Black has to defend against White , which would be a double-atari. Connecting with is Black's only move.

He must not connect at , instead.
If he did, he would not only lose one tempo in the Main Semeai; please remember that is located outside the Main Semeai area. Additionally, lB would become an approach-move liberty of White's group at the left, so Black would have lost two moves in the Main Semeai in total, falling below the Punishment Semeai Liberty Level.
Please note that White has not yet created the ko shape in the left centre by replying at , which would have lost a move in the Main Semeai, too.

:
White captures, and gives atari at Black's stone below. We think that this is the most straightforward choice for White.

White has also some alternative options for her continuation in the left centre, but all of which revert to each other.

:
Black is forced to connect immediately.

If he captured with , instead, White would give atari at , and Black would be unable to save his two stones, due to his shortage of liberties.

:
White inserts her kikashi in the lower left corner, destroying an additional point of Black's territory there.

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White's connection at the upper edge is the largest move left.

; ; :
There will be no ko in the left centre. Therefore, Black simplifies the issue by playing all of his remaining kikashi.

: (A 648mg)
Analysing the fate of White's two -stones is a bit tricky. As a result of our investigations, we can safely assume that White, and Black, will (capture and) connect one of these stones each.

We will show in the subvariation that Black does not really want to capture and connect both of White's stones.
On the other hand, Black must not wait with settling the left centre until after White's decision point - in an erroneous assumption that his losing moves in the Main Semeai would benefit White in any case.

: (B 648mj)
Black captures White's other stone.

We will show in the subvariation that White does not really want to connect both of her stones.

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White's atari is forced, to stop Black from creating an additional point of territory in the centre.

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Black connects.

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The Main Semeai continues.

Black plays 3/4 reductions.

Later, White will play her kikashi , in the lower left corner, so that Black must capture at before the end of the game.

Capture Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation ...

• White captured another Black stone in the left centre, so gaining one point.
• Black captured another White stone in the left centre, so gaining one point.

In total, gains and losses compensate for each other.

White + 2 => White + 2

Semeai Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation ...

• White captured another Black stone in the left centre, so gaining one point.
• Black captured another White stone in the left centre, so gaining one point.

In total, gains and losses compensate for each other.

White + 2 => White + 2