Source:
Problem diagram.
White plays
The Single-Flying Swan problem (no, I don't know why
the problem has that name), from Guan Zi Pu ,
an ancient Chinese tsumego problem set.
Side variation analysis by Myron Souris.
Solution follows
(or click here to download SGF)
Correct.
White 1 is the only move that works!
Chess can produce incredibly beautiful combinations, but only go
can produce such beauty with so simple a set of playing rules.
Black 2 is the toughest defense. Note that after 4, Black has to take an extra move to capture the White stone before being able to atari the 5 White stones below. So White has time for the extra key move at 5 to capture the 2 Black stones below. Through the end of this diagram, White has cold-bloodedly played nothing but simple slow-looking moves, but Black still loses the semeai by 1 move!
This problem is just one reason why Shania Twain did NOT put the game of
go in her song about the list of things that don't impress her much.
Black variation.
Black's cut at 8 doesn't work either.
White calmly protects his stone with 9, and when Black's
ataris run out, White captures the Black stones.
See the SGF for details.
Too easy on White.
Trying to escape with Black 2 makes White's job easy.
After 5, either White's 5 stones connect out to the top left, or White captures Black in a ladder.
See the SGF for details.
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