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Correct Solution 1 (White Dies) Black 7 at 5

Correct Solution Respondents Success Rate: 10%

Black 1 is the vital point and the only move to play. White 2 puts up the strongest resistance, but Black fixes the shape with 3, and then capturing five stones with 5 and 7 are good moves.

Correct Solution 2

White can tenaciously cut at 8, but Black 9 is a dazzling finishing blow. White is dead.

Correct Solution Variation

In the case where Black 1 is met by the attachment of White 2, the cut of Black 3 is a good tesuji. White has no alternative but to take hold of Black’s stone with White 4, and then the atari of Black 5 and connection of 7 are commonplace moves but good ones. Since "a" and "b" are equivalent options, White is dead.

Diagram 1

At first sight, the cut of Black 1 is just as good, but it is just at that point that White springs the exquisite move of 2 on Black. It is unavoidable that Black reply with 3, and then following White 4 and Black 5…

Diagram 2

…White 6 is a good move to ensure survival [shinogi]. White ends up magnificently making life with the moves through 8.

Diagram 3

Should Black play at 1, the connection of White 2 is a good move. The sequence through Black 7 results in ko shape.