← Back to collectionGo / Xuanxuan Qijing · Position study

Xuanxuan Qijing · Problem 8

Xuanxuan Qijing · Problem 8. Go, White to play. Study 11 reference plies, try both sides and branch from the replay.

0 pliesWhite starts

Site coordinates run A–S left to right and 1–19 top to bottom; A1 is the top-left intersection.

Read the position, one decision at a time

Try the position first, then open the notes. They explain measurable changes in the reference, not every possible variation.

Reveal step-by-step explanations

1. White · S2

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 1 stones and 2 liberties: S1, S3. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

2. Black · Q2

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 2 stones and 3 liberties: Q1, P2, R1. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

3. White · Q1

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 1 stones and 2 liberties: P1, R1. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

4. Black · P1

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 1 stones and 2 liberties: P2, O1. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

Continue with the learning path →

Understand this position

19 ranks × 19 files · 10 black stones · 5 white stones

Count the liberties of each connected group, not the empty points next to just one stone. Orthogonal contact connects; diagonal contact does not. Try your move, count captures and recount the resulting group’s liberties before comparing the reference.

Read the reference line (11 plies)

Coordinates match this board: letters left to right, row numbers from top to bottom. These are board coordinates, not traditional score notation.

White S2
Black Q2
White Q1
Black P1
White R1
Black S1
White R1
Black Q1
White O1
Black S1
White S3

Read the rules with worked examples →