Quick Positions

From a dan players’ problem book, a position which Uberdude discusses in detail here.

Black to play.

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As a 5k in 2021, I immediately saw A. This is the book solution, but Uberdude criticises it in the thread, supporting his position with a Leela Zero analysis.

After some time, though, I also came up with B–E, as well as the two Xes around B. I feel intuitively that D isn’t good, but after reading it there seemed to be worthwhile continuations. Leela liked B as well, he reports, but after more playouts it switched to the floaty, botty G.

I think I would’ve eventually played E, because it looks most interesting to me, appearing to carry some play against the six eastern stones.

The “incorrect solution” given by the book is F, but I feel that’s a strawman answer. Who would consider F?

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