I can solve life-and-death problems when they are presented as problems, but in actual games I make mistakes, even if it’s the same shape. Do you have any advice for me? Consultation Two : Mr. Kikkawa I’m quite liable to make mistakes myself! When you are presented with a problem with the caption, ‘Black to play, White dies’, then there’s only one correct answer, so you can solve it, but in a game you have to do your analysis without knowing whether White is supposed to be alive or dead. That makes things much more difficult. A position that would be 3-kyu level presented as a problem would probably be 1-dan level if it appeared in an actual game, so I wouldn’t worry about going wrong in a game. Instead, make it your motto that if you get it wrong three times, you’ll learn it. As for advice, I think that it’s best to develop your reading ability by repeatedly solving life-and-death problems. Life-and-death fights are important, as they decide the results of games, so the more you develop your reading ability the more your overall strength will go up. If you make a mistake in a game with a position you have studied, it’s important to review it after the game. This will enable you to master the position naturally. Life-and-death study needs quiet perseverance, but please do your best little by little. Good luck!