Indeed there are some misunderstandings on the fate of the molasses ko in the Japanese rule. This shape has never been judged in the three Asian rules, and I am sure the rulemakers have never thought of this shape, but here is one basic principle of the Korean/Japanese rule worth remembering: the whole board repetition other than the simple ko recapture is not prohibited. The sequence repeating the whole board position includes passes, but the rule also does not prohibit it.Gérard TAILLE wrote:The problem seems to be a misunderstanding of japonese rules.
In the situation above my understanding is that after blackwhite pass, black pass white, in order to avoid losing the game can claim to play in the molasses ko.
Thus, if it occurs in a major tournament game, I believe the likely result is a draw (or no result if the term matters). I have not talked with someone in Nihon Ki-in, but at least the Korean pros I have talked with (including those who wrote the Korean rule) agreed that a draw is the proper result for this shape. (Thinking of the way the Chinese rule has been applied in reality, I think they will also rule it a draw.)
The situation can be quite complicated in that until almost the last moment, the players have no reason to pass, and the whole board does not repeat. Unless the rule allows the players to "anticipate the whole board repetition and stop the game", due to the molasses sequence, the game may continue for 24 hours until