G'day, fellow travellers of the 19x19 grid!!! I
am your host, RUIXUAN -- ANU Go Club treasurer,
and (not to boast, but I WILL) a solid AMATEUR
4 DAN over the board!!! Every week I post a
position, straight off my own goban, and this
week's shape has been giving people
GRIEF at the club
table!!! So here it is, no tricks, no fine
print: WHITE TO PLAY, AND WHITE KILLS THE
WHOLE BLACK GROUP. Not "reduce." Not "seal
in." KILL!!! I have watched strong players walk
straight past the move that does it. Study the
diagram carefully before you scroll on!!!
THE POSITION
A
B
C
D
E
F
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
★
2
1
In words, for anyone using a screen reader or who
just wants it read out: White has an unbroken wall
across the top of the diagram, row nine from column A
to column E, and a second wall running straight down
column E from row nine to row six. White also has a
lone stone at A eight and a lone stone at A one, plus
a small tucked-in cluster at B five, D five, C four,
D four, and C three, sitting inside Black's shape.
Black fills the rest of the corner around that
cluster: columns B and C from row two up to row
eight, with outside stones at A seven and A two, and
a Black wall along row eight and row seven. The star
point at D three, marked with a star rather than a
stone, is an empty intersection. It is White's move,
and the question I am putting to you is this: is
there a single White move, anywhere on this diagram,
that kills the entire Black group?
I will tell you now: the answer is ONE move, and it
is not where you think!!! I have had 1 dans and 2
dans stare at this for ten minutes and reach for the
wrong side of the board every time. Mail me if you
find it and I will put your name on this page!!!