I see another issue with the handling of ko in actual play or in hypothetical play.
Komi O,5 point, White to play
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B
$$ ----------------------------------------
$$ | X X X X X X X X X . O O O O O O O . O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O .|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X .|
$$ | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X . X|
$$ | X X X X X X O O O O O . X X X X X X X|
$$ | O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ | O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O|
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]
In this position the 81 black stones in the upper left corner can be captured and it is the same for the 81 white stones in the bottom.
Assume that both players agreed that, under
normal play, these two large groups are dead.
Before 1989 that means that both players agreed that white wins by 0,5 points (81 black stones and 81 white stones are dead).
What happens with the 1989 rule?
White pass, black pass and the game stops.
Assuming that both players agreed to say that the 81 white stones in the bottom are dead by using the hypothetical play it remains only the 81 black stones in the upper left corner.
Here, assuming the two players agreed in their analyse with hypothetical play, 3 scenarios are possible
1) The players agreed that the black group is dead with hypothetical play => everytings is OK, white wins by 0,5 point (same result with the previous rule version)
2) The player agreed that the black group is alive with hypothetical play => white ask for a resumption of the game => black pass and white pass. What is the result? I guess black wins ?
3) The players agreed that it is far to complex to decide whether or not the black group is dead under hypothetical play. What happens? I guess the resumption of the game will be decided but both players will obviously pass. What is the result? Here again I guess black will win
Can we conclude that the 1989 rule changes the result of this game ?