Lesson 2b. Capturing Race – Solution (Part 2)

Yokoso! Mina-san, ohayo gozaimasu!

In this lesson, we continue with the solution to Questions 4 and 5 asked in Lesson 2. This is going to be the final lesson on capturing races and I hope that with these lessons, your understanding of capturing races has improved. In the next and subsequent lessons, we will discuss about the Opening and basic opening theories will be explored in a logical and systematic manner. The Opening lessons will also cover a bit on a few popular openings such as the Ni Ren Sei and San Ren Sei openings as well as a brief overview on the three types of opening, i.e. the territorial, moyo based and fighting openings.

Just to recap on the Capturing Race Lessons, these are the few things that you should know by now:

Lesson 2a. Capturing Race (2) – Solution (Part 1)

Mina-san, konnichiwa!

Have you all been practicing the capturing race questions? I believe you have because you are serious in improving your Go skills, right?

In this lesson, we shall have the solution to the first three questions in the study questions in Lesson 2. However, there shall be a slight change. Because we have gone through in a lot of detail in the presentation of the solution for the questions in Lesson 1 where the step-by-step technique is shown, in this lesson, we will just jump straight to the solution and we will only explore some answers that the student may commonly get wrong. I will therefore trust that you can by now identify which groups of stones that are participating in the capturing race and how to count liberties. If not, please review lesson 1.

Lesson 2. Capturing Race (2)

Mina-san, konnichiwa! Ogenki desu ka.

In lesson 1, we have studied the following:

1. Identifying which groups that are in a capturing race and which stones are important and which stones are not important
2. Count liberties of the groups in a capturing race in a simple situation
3. Focus on reducing your opponent’s liberties while increasing your own liberties
4. Learn how to increase the liberties of stones by extension into the edge and by using tesuji such as wedging-in (warikomi) between stones and the throw-in tesuji to reduce opponent’s liberties
5. Learn some special properties of the edge and the corner

In this lesson, we will talk about some slightly more difficult situations in counting liberties in a capturing race involving eye space. At the end of this lesson, there will be 5 “Test Yourself” questions covering Capturing Race (from both Lessons 1 and 2) for you to take home and practice.

Lesson 1e. Capturing Race – Solution (part 5)

Konnichiwa everyone! Ohayo gozaimasu.

This is the final sub-lesson for Lesson 1 where the solution to the final problem is given and analyzed. In the past few lessons, we have learned a few things about capturing race and how to win it. Before we proceed to Lesson 2, where I will go into a little bit more depth on counting liberties and some tesuji, here is the solution to the final question. I hope that by the end of this series on capturing race, you have learned something and become more confident when faced with a capturing race situation in your game, which is quite common.

Again, as I have mentioned in the previous lesson, do not jump to conclusion based on “feel” but try to explore all possible moves logically and step by step. The more you do this, the better and faster you will become, and the stronger you will be for sure.

Lesson 1d. Capturing Race – Solution (part 4)

Konnichiwa! Today we continue with the solution to question 5 asked in Lesson 1. We will see techniques used to reduce opponent’s liberties while increasing our own liberties. Before we start, however, I would request that you have the habit of checking every possible moves before jumping into conclusion. Yes, sometimes one can answer the question just “at a glance” but have you really investigated other possible moves? You must always consider the most severe answers from your opponents and after you have checked every possibility, then only can you be satisfied with your answer. And by doing so, you will also improve significantly.

So, shall we start?

Lesson 1c. Capturing Race – Solution (part 3)

Konnichiwa! We have now come to part 3 of the solution to the questions in Lesson 1. Let’s start!

Solution to Question 4.

1. Identify the groups that are in a capturing race. Is your answer as per the Diagram 4a below?

Lesson 1b. Capturing Race – Solution (part 2)

This is part 2 of the solution to the questions in lesson 1. Our objective is to assist you to analyze the problem and offer a step-by-step solution so that you can verify for yourself and use this skill in your games.

It is important at this point to note that you should not memorize the solution as each game is different but the key is to understand the thought process and learn the skills to analyze the position instead.

Lesson 1a. Capturing Race – Solution (part 1)

Following from Lesson 1, here is a step-by-step solution to the problem. Try to understand the method.

Solution to Question 1.

As mentioned in Lesson 1 as well as in the study pack, the first step is to identify the groups that are in the capturing race. In our question, the marked stones in Diagram 1a are in a capturing race. Did you get this correct?

Lesson 1. Capturing Race (1)

In the Module A Syllabus section A.4, one is being introduced to the Capturing Race or, in Japanese, “Semeai” (pronounced Say-mee-eye). A semeai is a situation whereby two opposing groups of stones try to capture each other and there is a race to kill of liberties. In the study pack, some principles are given in a semeai situation. They are:

1. Identify which groups of stones are in a semeai
2. Always fill in outside liberties first
3. A group of stones that has one eye will beat the group of stones that has no eyes

Often, in a capturing race, one uses some tesuji (skillful moves) to extend the liberties of one’s stones and this include techniques such as the throw-in method, wedge in between stones or extending on the edge.