( 977)

(Referenced by 91)

White must connect at the upper cutting point, at . Black has one more liberty than "usual", according to the increased number for the Punishment Semeai Liberty Level. But White's centre group still has five liberties.

With respect to the liberty count, we have the same situation as with the lower connection before; so White will have no chance to win, without taking refuge to the usage of a ko-threat in the top left corner.
However, White was not forced to play her gote move in the hanezeki at , as we will see later ( 1001).

@

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Black connects the hanezeki's tail with .

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White is unable to connect the ko with , because Black wins outright thereafter.

Ko: ;

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If White follows Black with occupying liberties, she is also worse off. Black has two additional ko-threats in the hanezeki, with , and .

Ko: ; ; ;

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Again, White needed atari-ko-threats to prevent Black from playing at .

Ko:

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Overall, White needed five atari-ko-threats to win the ko-fight. It seems very unlikely that White has option to get more than even one atari-ko-threat, so Black will win with ease.