(;
AB[ra][rb][pb][qc][qd][sc][sd][nd][ne][nf][pd][mg][mh][mi][ni][oi][pi][qj][rj][sj]
AW[rc][rd][re][oe][of][qe][nh][oh][ph][rh][ri]
C[Pro Pair Go Tsumego 2 (Answer)

Michael Redmond 9P is graciously providing all E-Journal readers with a set of tsumego problems featured at the 2016 pro pair go tournament.  Of course, these problems are quite tough, but nevertheless entertaining to everyone, especially because Michael will later provide each solution.

In this tsumego contest, each pair has up to 10 minutes to answer each problem, but only the first 5 pairs can answer.  The race to answer first makes these problems highly challenging.  After signalling having an answer, a pair must play each move within 5 seconds.  The pair team plays Black's moves, while the composer plays White's, which allows the composers to show their favorite variation for White.

Michael gives the background for this tsumego from Oba Junya 7P, who is well known for his pro level tsumego problems:

"This tsumego is not as difficult as it looks, as there is only one tesuji that jumps to mind for Black, and White 2 is forced, making the first 3 moves fairly easy to find.  In fact, Ke Jie 9p slapped down the first 3 moves almost immediately.  However, there is a very effective blind spot after that, which tripped some pros."];
B[pg]
C[A set-up move for the following tesuji.]
(;
W[og]
C[White's connection is forced.]
(;
B[rg]
C[This tsuke, with the potential connection underneath, is the correct tesuji.]
(;
W[qg]
C[White's correct play.];
B[qh]
C[With this sacrifice of a stone Black tries to make a watari to the right side.]
(;
W[rf]
C[White's correct response.];
B[qf];W[pf];B[qg];W[qi]
C[This might look like it's alive, that being the built-in blind spot for this tsumego.  If you were fooled, then look again, as Black can get a ko.];
B[si];W[sg];B[qg];W[se];B[rg];W[qh];B[sh]
C[Correct answer.  This can be a direct ko, or in an actual game White might leave the local position for a while.]
)
    (;
    W[qi]
    C[White's mistake.];
    B[sh]
    C[Dead.]
    )
    (;
    W[pf]
    C[Mistake.];
    B[rf]
    C[Dead.];
    W[qi];B[sh]
    C[Dead.]
    )
)
    (;
    W[qh]
    TR[rg]
    C[White's mistake.  Black's tesuji to connect the marked stone to the UR corner is actually not easy, but since it appears in many tsumego problems, it should be relatively easy to find.];
    B[pe];W[pf];B[sb]
    TR[rg]
    C[The marked stone is connected already, so White is dead.]
    )
)
    (;
    B[qh]
    C[Mistake.];
    W[rg]
    C[Now White is alive.]
    )
)
    (;
    W[qg]
    C[Mistake.];
    B[pf];W[pe];B[og]
    C[Dead.]
    )
)

