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Xuanxuan Qijing · Problem 36

Xuanxuan Qijing · Problem 36. Go, Black to play. Study 13 reference plies, try both sides and branch from the replay.

0 pliesBlack 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. Black · F18

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 1 stones and 3 liberties: F17, F19, G18. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

2. White · F17

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 3 stones and 6 liberties: F16, G16, G18, H16, H18, I17. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

3. Black · C18

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 6 stones and 8 liberties: C19, B18, C16, D16, E16, B16, A16, A18. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

4. White · G18

This move captures 0 stones. After captures, the connected group containing the new stone has 4 stones and 6 liberties: G19, H18, G16, H16, I17, F16. Diagonal neighbours are not part of the same group. More than one liberty does not by itself establish life; examine the next move.

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Understand this position

19 ranks × 19 files · 8 black stones · 12 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 (13 plies)

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

Black F18
White F17
Black C18
White G18
Black D19
White F19
Black B18
White A19
Black B15
White B16
Black C16
White A16
Black B15

Read the rules with worked examples →