Gokyo Shumyo study pays off even for pros

[John Fairbairn]

This one is for the stronger players. For me, at least, it was a new wrinkle on an old classic, and seems to have been so even for a pro.

In the position below, Black (Hayashi Yutaro) caught White (Kosugi Tei) by surprise with the triangled move. Kosugi said of it: "When Black got to play 71 I was in trouble. But I had to admire it - it came precisely from studying the [Gokyo] Shumyo." Why was it so good and what is the outcome?



Generous hint:

It's ko, but White has to be careful with move 9. If this is in the usual place at 11, Black can live unconditionally.

For kyus:

Here is the base position from the Shumyo - Black dies even when he tries to live with 1.

Gokyo Shumyo is the classic (1812) repository for these sorts of small corner positions, and is routinely recommended for kyu players. But I think this example illustrates it can be studied with profit even by pros.

[Uberdude]

This shape, or very similar, also came up in a Malkovich game here. Maybe Magicwand vs topazg iirc. drmwc (Matt Cocke, UK 5d) pointed out how a hane like this meant some group I had dismissed (without reading but common shape like L or J group recognition) wasn't actually totally dead.

[Shaddy]

Looks like o1 m2 n3 p1 l2 s3 t3 t2 r2 - and r2 is commonly at s1, but here Black r2 would live outright. Then Black can make a double ko to escape to the left or live in the corner?