In "The Art of Go Series - Connecting Stones", you can find at p.91 the following problem:

"Black to play. How he can link up his groups by capturing?"

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$|-----------
$$|...........
$$|...O.......
$$|.OOX.X.....
$$|.OX..XO....
$$|...X.OXO...
$$|..OOO.XX...
$$|...........
$$|-----------[/go]

(in the original problem, there is one white stone missing - D2 - you can see that on the p.92)

J5 seems to be the correct black move (w's kaketsugi at H5 doesn't work; w's kaketsugi at J4 doesn't work) but when white plays a katatsugi, black is in trouble (see the diagram below).

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$|------------
$$|............
$$|...O........
$$|.OOX.X..B...
$$|.OX..XOW....
$$|...X.OXO....
$$|..OOO.XX....
$$|............
$$|------------[/go]

The authors of the book claims that K3 solves black's trouble... I don't see how does K3 solves the problem if white plays H6.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$|------------
$$|............
$$|...O...W....
$$|.OOX.X..X...
$$|.OX..XOO....
$$|...X.OXO.B..
$$|..OOO.XX....
$$|............
$$|------------[/go]

Is this an error (actually a problem that cannot be solved) or there is a variation I missed? What do you think?

I think it may be a matter for white if h6 is worth playing.. They cut off a few black stones but end up with black having a huge wall....

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$|------------
$$|......5xx...
$$|...O.43Wxx..
$$|.OOX.X21Xx..
$$|.OX..XOO.xx.
$$|...X.OXO.Bx.
$$|..OOO.XX.xx.
$$|............
$$|------------[/go]

I think that wall is worth more than the points white earns... If this is the case, then since h6 is the only move for white to stop black from connecting, white has to let black connect...

the original problem with the missing D2 gives black enough liberties to connect and have the wall...

Of course, being a 9k, I am probably very wrong...

_________________
I'm thinking...

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$|------------
$$|......1xx...
$$|...O4OXOxx..
$$|.OOX3XOXXx..
$$|.OX52XOO.xx.
$$|..6X.OXO.Bx.
$$|..OOO.XX.xx.
$$|............
$$|------------[/go]

6 at a kills black...

This is the variation I saw for when the d2 stone isn't there....

_________________
I'm thinking...

I remind you what the problem is: "Black to play. How he can link up his groups by capturing?". The few black stones that you're talking about are actually one of the groups that was supposed to be linked (i.e. not to die, right?)



The "original problem" contains a typo error. As I already mentioned, that can be seen on the book's next page where the problem is "solved". D2 isn't missing in any further diagram. Anyway, if D2 is not there, then the problem is not a problem anymore (or maybe it is but for a DDK player )

6 at 6 kills Black too