karaklis wrote:That means just memorizing the position is suboptimal? What would be better then? Memorizing which stones are crucial? Or being able to divide the problem into smaller problems that you already know?
There is a difference between recognizing a problem and memorizing it. To recognize a problem in a book you do not necessarily have to attend to the crucial features. Then later you may misplay a similar position, relying upon faulty memory, faulty because it was incorrectly formed in the first place.
Example: I posted this tsumego on GoDiscussions. (I "discovered" it myself, but I have later found it in an ancient book.
I don't know how hard it is. I would guess 3-kyu or so. But to my surprise it got at least one incorrect solution attempt from a strong player. (There may have been more than one, but I can't open the thread on GD.) Why? Because it is similar to a well-known tsumego.
I have written more about this on SL: http://senseis.xmp.net/?GoProblemsTheFudgeFactor
in illuck's second diagram). Nice problem.