Takagi Life and Death Problem
White to Play
Composed by Takagi Shōichi 9 dan and published in the Takagi 45 Life & Death Problems booklet as a supplement to Kidō, April 1990.
If the vital point for the first move can be found, this is simple and easy.
Show Answer
Correct Solution 1 (A Jump to the First Line)
The jump of White 1 is the vital point for bringing about a race to capture. Black can hang tough with 2, but White continues with 3.
Correct Solution 2 (A Precise Snapback)
Black 4 is another tenacious move, but White 5 and the sequence through 7 wraps things up. A snapback is precisely set up to capture Black’s two stones.
Diagram 1 (A Six Point Oversized Eye) White 7 connects at 2
Even if Black plays at 4 and 6 to capture, a six point oversized eye is created that leaves the group dead.
Diagram 2 (Failure)
For defensive purposes as well, Black 2 is the vital point. Next, A and B are equivalent options for unconditional life. Even if White plays 1 at A, Black 2 is the correct response.
Next Week’s Problem
White to Play
Composed by Takagi Shōichi 9 dan and published in the Takagi 45 Life & Death Problems booklet as a supplement to Kidō, April 1990.
The final problem is rather difficult. A player who can solve this is amateur 6 dan.