Life and Death
Life and death problems are called tsume-go. Tackling lots of these problems--and trying to solve them before checking the solution--will help your reading skills. The best thing is to put the situation on the board and try to solve the problem without using stones.
If you can't work out the solution in five to 10 minutes, use stones. If you are still stymied, what do you do then? Find the approach that best suits you.
Some people insist you should never look at the solution until you are sure you have found it--without using stones. Then check the solution to verify you are correct.
Other people say that if you can't solve the problem--and sometimes you might not even understand what the problem really is--use stones. If you can't work it out after 10 minutes, look at the solution.
I think the second approach is valid for beginners and lower intermediate players. Players of dan strength first should try to work out the solution without using stones.
When you are four dan or stronger, never look at the solution until you are sure you have solved the problem.
Problem 1: If Black plays his next move correctly, he can kill the white group. Where should Black play?
Solution 1: Black should play right in the middle of White's eye space. White can't escape with 2 as Black can block with 3. For White, there is no point in playing at A or B as this will only quicken his death. On the other hand, if the need arises, Black can play at A or B, putting White into atari (i.e. put him in a position where he has only one liberty left). White can capture the two black stones by playing at B or A, temporarily giving him two liberties. But Black can play inside again, e.g. 1, putting White in atari once more. White cannot prevent being captured on the next move.
Reference 1: Black 1 is no good. White ensures life by playing at 2. Black can't play at A or B to put the white group into atari. White's two eyes means he will live.
Problem 2: Again, Black can kill the white group. Where should he play?
Solution 2: Black 1 is correct. Again, White can't escape with 2. If White plays inside his own eye space he will only make it smaller, so there is no point in doing that. On the other hand, Black can play at A and B to put White in atari. If White captures these three stones, we get a situation similar to that in Problem 1. Put it on the go board and try it.
Reference 2: Black 1 is no good. White captures with 2 and makes three eyes, one where he captured the black stones, the others at A and B.
Problem 3: Where should Black play to kill the White group?
Problem 4: Because it allows Black to kill White, white 1 is a mistake. Where should Black play to kill White? Instead of 1, where should White have played?
Problem 5: Where should Black play to prevent White from making a second eye?
Problem 6: This is similar to Problem 5. Where should Black play to prevent White from making a second eye?
Problem 7: This problem is similar to Problem 3. Again Black can capture the white stones. How? There are two solutions.
The solutions to Problems 3 to 7 will be carried next week.
Van Zeijst is a four-time European go champion and European representative at the Fujitsu World Championship.