Here are the weekly Go problems for week 21.
Black plays first in all problems and all solutions are labeled ‘correct’. Have fun!
Easy Go problem
A ko would be a failure here…
Intermediate Go problem
It’s a capturing race with four liberties each. You should be able to win if you play first, but how do you stop white from getting more liberties?
Hard Go problem
Maybe you think this is the same as the last problem? Perhaps so, but be careful…
Still want more Go problems?
For more high quality problems, have a look at the life and death books and tesuji books in our Go book shop.
Discuss other possible moves
If you have any questions or want to discuss these problems, please leave a comment below at any time. You can use the coordinates on the problem images to discuss possible moves with other readers.
You can also download the problem file and review variations by clicking [link] on the left side of each problem. You'll need some software to open the .sgf file you download.
About David Ormerod
Got the first two, but the hard puzzles me. Also, there’s so much aji on the right side…
Ruben
Keep trying Ruben, you’ll get it eventually
.
The hard problem is a nice one,and is very misleading.That’s a good example of why you need to read everything till the end enven though the shape looks familiar.Anyway,thanks for the great stuff!
You’re welcome Haikira, thanks
.
hard: B2 C3 B3 C4 B4 C5 C6 B5 B1
Please delete this comment ASAP! Please don’t deprive others’ right to have fun figuring it out themselves
Don’t delete it. I spent over half an hour on this problem and still couldn’t get the answer. If people don’t want it, they won’t read the comments.
People can find the answer by downloading the sgf and viewing it themselves. I agree, don’t spoil it in the comments
I don’t really mind people posting their variations here so that we can discuss them. A sequence of moves written like that is not really that easy to follow anyway, so I think it still takes a bit of effort to ‘read’ them and ruin the problem.
That being said, it doesn’t really add much to just post the solution without saying anything else. In this case, maybe Nguyen doesn’t speak English that well and this is just his or her way of saying thanks.
For the hard one, if Black begins at B2, what happen if White responses at B3?
I was able to figure out this pathway in about 5 minutes. And I can see that reduce the liberty count to 3 for the white group. However, I don’t see what move sequence is next. I’ve tried every variation I know of and still cannot figure out to make the move after white’s B1.
Black’s A5 is followed by white’s throw in at A4. Black’s A3 captures, but white responds with another throw in at A2, which black captures at A1 forcing a ko fight.
So, is the answer to generate a ko fight with white to have to find first ko threat? If so, the problem description is a bit too oblique. And secondly, the problem play-out app says “End of variation” but does not indicate “correct”.
Or did I miss a variation that does end in correct? If so, I would love to understand how it works.
Oops…I got the very last move wrong. In response to white’s B5, black’s B1 (not B6). Very devious. I totally see the continuation now, LOL!
BTW, I downloaded the .sgf and viewed it in Jago. I love it.
Right Jim, it’s very tricky at the end there. That’s what I meant by ‘be careful’
. I’m glad you figured it out.
The second one was a known tesuji. But the third… I solved after a lot of tries. I can’t read this in a real game.
Thanks a lot.
Yes, they look the same, but as you found they’re not
. If you remember the basic ideas in the hard problem, you might get a chance to play some moves like this in a real game someday…
I actually found the third pretty easy (although extremely cool). The important setup stones sort of pop when you do similar problems
Haha, I don’t think I’ve posted one that’s really troubled you yet Luc?
Intermediate: known tesuji for me (one of the few things Sensei’s helped me to interiorize)
Hard: I must admit I embarked on a try and almost instinctively made the correct move. One starts to have a feel for this liberty increasing tesuji after all those years.
Both the intermediate and hard problems are very cool! I knew the first move by instinct but as usual, was not able to read through the whole thing.
I can’t believe I’m having more difficulty doing the intermediate than the hard one!
If you have not seen the tesuji before, it’s hard to find?
This time I found all problems very easy, unlike usually.
The hard one is too hard!!!1
Can’t figure out intermediate!
Tried C3, C4, D1… and it doesn’t work…
Can someone help me out? I just can’t figure it out…
and I actually got the hard one…
ok now I got it…
Glad you figured it out Terrance
.