:: Igo Hatsuyôron 120 (2015)

The Further Evolution of Amateurs' Knowledge

(2011 - 2014)

After Black Connected the Hanezeki's Tail

Please note that we successfully applied the following "six / seven / five liberties" methodology in the chapter "Putting the Cart Before the Horse" ( 937), too.


[ Six Liberties for White's Top Left Group ]

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After Black connected the hanezeki's tail, with a move at , and White answered with the oki of , we will first consider the availability of "quick" ko-threats for Black, i.e. moves that threaten the liberty count of White's top -group in the top left directly. We have to distinguish two different cases that depend on the number of liberties of White's centre group, in comparison with the liberty count of Black's connected group on the lower edge.

!!! Please note that we consider the semeai between White's group in the upper left, and Black's connected group in the lower right, here only, and so did not adjust the upper right quadrant of the board accordingly. As a matter of course, Black could connect the hanezeki's tail, only if the resulting group - with reference to the semeai with the White's centre group - had sufficient liberties left. !!!

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As long as White is forced to connect the ko in the upper right, with a move at , to prevent Black from capturing her centre group, she is unable to ignore any "quick" ko-threat in the nakade.

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If White tried it nevertheless, she would lose the semeai between upper left, and lower right.

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Otherwise, let us assume that Black would be forced to re-capture the ko in order to regain sufficient liberties for further approaching White's centre group successfully. White would be able to ignore a "quick" ko-threat in the nakade, if her centre group had at least four liberties (11, 13, , ; or more general: one liberty less than Black's connected group on the lower edge).

White's group in the upper left has five liberties left, so it would make no difference, should Black choose the semeai with this group, starting with a move at , instead of re-capturing the ko.

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After Black connected the hanezeki's tail, with a move at , and White answered with the oki of , there are no "slow" ko-threats in the nakade any more, i.e. moves that do not directly threaten the liberty count of White's -group.

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White simply connects the ko, and wins the semeai with Black's connected group on the lower edge by one move.

Copyright © 2016 Thomas Redecker.

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