Middle game to end game transition

Here we discuss when the middle game can be said to go over into end game.

When the heavy fighting is over, and all important groups have a clearly defined status - alive or dead - the players start to increase their territory and decrease the territory of their opponent. This marks the end of the middle game and the start of the end game.

Sometimes, an endgame position can turn back into the middlegame via a ko fight or mutual damage.