Not once, but TWICE IN THE SAME GAME could I have taken a commanding lead if I had only studied the position and considered the push cut.
What the hay is a push cut?
A push-cut occurs when you perform a two move sequence consisting of a push followed by a cut. let’s break it down, step by step.
First, we see that it is White’s move and Black has ignored the peep at C7:
Next, we see White push at C7 and then Black try to block at B7:
Finally White cuts at B8 to compromise Black’s position!
From this point, Black has decide what to lose.
- If black protects against the cut by playing B6, then C9 ataris the C8 stone in a ladder leaving the C11 stone surrounded
- if black kills the cutting stone with B9, then White follows up with C3 (marked X) and Black will lose the group marked 1 or 2 based on how play continues.
position 1
Position 2
That’s it
i would give the answers. But it’s better to download a Go engine (like KaTrain) and play through the positions in this game it until you have it under your belt.