Here are the weekly Go problems for week 50.
Black plays first in all problems and all solutions are labeled ‘correct’. Have fun!
Easy Go problem
Sometimes one of your stones just has to take one for the team…
Intermediate Go problem
White’s stones look connected, but black has a clever asking move.
Hard Go problem
Two half eyes do not two whole eyes make. Be creative in your move order, and watch out for traps.
Still want more Go problems?
You can find Go books packed full of life and death problems, tesuji problems and other valuable Go knowledge at the Go Game Shop.
Discuss other possible moves
If you have any questions or want to discuss any of these problems, please leave a comment below at any time. You can use the coordinates on the problem images to discuss a move or sequence of moves.
You can also download the solutions as a PDF or SGF file by clicking the links below each problem.
About David Ormerod
Waw. I was on the wrong track the whole time.
With the hard problem? I think it doesn’t really look possible to live the first time you see this kind of situation.
It’s strange how the last problem I’ve seen three times in just the past week since reviewing it from the Gokyo Shumyo…
Thank-you for the problems David.
That’s funny. I’ve resisted posting a problem based on this idea for quite awhile because it’s a bit of a cliché. Similar problems seem to pop up in a lot of collections.
The hard problem is really neat, I didn’t know it, and I love it. Thank you for showing.
Kind regards,
Paul
Thanks Paul, I’m glad you found it useful. Black’s move on the 1-2 point can be quite useful in actual play, but it takes awhile to remember to look for it. It did for me anyway.
I was like wow I don’t need to fight a ko
Haha, right, that’s one of the most interesting aspects of this shape.
As often, Although it make me think a lot, the intermediate problem is suprising easy, and useful in real games. The hard one is too much to me… I will keep on try it!
Thanks David.
Good on you Jangalf. Keep trying!
How do I find the solution to the third problem because I cannot find it.
There are PDF & SGF files you can download that will show you the solution. They’re just below each problem.
Thanks for helping out Tony.
The last problem was difficult, but fun to see. I have to admit I cheated and downloaded the solution. But I’m glad to see that I had seen all the right moves, I just didn’t use the right sequence… Move order is important!
Right Tamara, I still mess up move order in my own games all the time. It can be really hard and confusing getting it right!
Easy one – 2 possible moves, seriously? “Problem” that could be solved instantly by anyone is meaningless.
Intermediate – common tesuji, useful, a bit too simple.
Hard – advanced use or vital points in corner, switching between 2 areas, reading. Difficult and elegant problem, very nice.
By the way, I think F6 is better than E6, because it gives 1 additional point and later B could threaten to cut with moves like H8 or J5. Only drawback is that W D1 becomes kind of sente (threatens to lose some points) if W plays full sequence. But obviously he will not, because playing on corner gives Black free points. So no problem for B here.
Hm, I noticed that W should deviate earlier. But my observation is still correct in case W is baka and deviates too late. Choosing the best move is good even when you play against a fool.
Black F6 in the hard problem leads to self atari eventually. As for the easy and intermediate problems, please show us your site which does a better job.
In main sequence with F6 instead of E6, if W then plays E6 D6, B still has 2 liberties at E5 and D1. I don’t see where B puts himself in self-atari.
About “your site”… it’s up to David if he wants feedback or not. I believe he does, that’s why I write my comments here.
Flandre: It was a deliberate decision to start making the first two problems a bit easier because we have a fairly varied audience and I’ve heard from a lot of people that the problems have gradually been getting too difficult. Some people don’t comment here and email me instead.
Also I need to make the easy problems easy enough that new players are ready to attempt them after studying our pages for beginners. I’m trying to make them easier, but still interesting, but I know they might still be a bit boring for you, unfortunately.
Dieter: Thanks for defending us.
When we get criticism that sounds a bit harshly worded, I tend to assume that it’s a cultural difference making it seem that way. As you know, it’s always easy to misunderstand intentions over the internet…
I’ll refrain in the future. I understand you value feedback over soothing. Thanks for the lesson!
For the hard problem: isn’t it better to not play b a5 in the solution and instead go directly for e6 or f6? After the sequence w a3 b e6, if white continues with a4, b a2, w b2, b c2? if w captures the ko at a1, b can connect at c1 and still capture 2 stones (a1 and b2).
If you omit a5, and continue as you propose, then after black connects at c1 white can play at b3 to make it ko.
Your sequence works too Dakre and I agree that trying to leave B7 on the board is a good idea in general. In this case though, A5 and A7 are still sente and white will be left with better eyeshape. After looking at it again I still think playing the hane first is better, but there’s very little difference really.