Molasses Ko / AGARules

Sub-page of MolassesKo

This page describes, in detail, the behaviour of Molasses Ko under AGA rules, which use Situational Superko. This rule states that "It is illegal to play in such a way as to repeat a previous board position from the game, with the same player to play." Under other rulesets we may see different results.

[Diagram]
Molasses ko (Black to play)  
[Diagram]
Molasses ko, Black pass  

At move 5 it is possible for Black to make a board play elsewhere, instead of passing. However this will create a different whole board position. But after the dame stage Black would prefer to pass.

[Diagram]
Molasses ko, White continues  

A White pass for W6 would trigger the agreement phase. During the agreement phase both players point out those groups which they believe to be dead. Here we assume that White tries to win the molasses ko.

B9 repeats the original position, but with White to play instead of Black. W10 passes.

[Diagram]
Molasses ko, Black continues  

A Black pass with B11 would trigger the agreement phase. But we assume that Black tries to win the molasses ko. B11 at B13 would repeat the position after B1. This would be an illegal, but understandable mistake. Such an illegal move would be taken from the board, and Black will be forced to pass, which would trigger the agreement phase.

But B13 repeats the position after B3. It is also illegal. It would be removed from the board, the white+circle stones would be restored to the board, and Black will be forced to pass, leaving the following position with White to play.

[Diagram]
Molasses ko after pass  

White now wins the molasses ko.

As Black cannot win the superko through normal means, he may choose to pass on move 11. This then creates two passes in a row, which triggers the agreement phase. It is possible that both players then agree the status of the group as seki. However both players do not have to agree about the status of the group and can continue playing. (No reason for disagreement need be given under AGA rules) If White resumes and simply Passes, then Black can also Pass, triggering 4 consecutive passes. Now all stones on the board will be considered as alive. Therefore White should not pass on resumption unless he has removed all Black prisoners from the board - OR - he would win anyway under the 4 pass ruling. If White resumes and plays, a new whole board position will be created.



For reference, the AGA rules covering the end of the game

9) Ending the Game: Two consecutive passes signal the end of the game. After two passes, the players must attempt to agree on the status of all groups of stones remaining on the board. Any stones which the players agree could not escape capture if the game continued, but which have not yet been captured and removed, are termed dead stones. If the players agree on the status of all such groups, they are removed from the board as prisoners of the player who could capture, and the game is scored as in Rule 12. If there is a disagreement over the status of some group or groups, play is resumed as specified in Rule 10.

10) Disputes: If the players disagree about the status of a group of stones left on the board after both have passed, play is resumed, with the opponent of the last player to pass having the move. The game is over when the players agree on the status of all groups on the board, or, failing such agreement, if both players pass twice in succession. In this case any stones remaining on the board are deemed alive. Any stone or group of stones surrounded and captured during this process is added to the capturing player's prisoners as usual.
It is recommended, particularly if the players do not share a common language, that the following procedure be used to determine agreement on the status of groups. After two consecutive passes, the next player touches each connected string of opposing stones on the board which he or she believes to be dead. If the opponent disagrees, he or she also touches the same string. When a player is done indicating groups he or she believes are dead, he or she passes, passing a stone to the opponent as usual, and the opponent follows the same procedure. At any point, a player may resume play rather than continuing to indicate dead groups or passing. If both players pass and there was no disagreement indicated, the game is over, and all groups which the players have indicated as dead are removed from the board. If they both pass while a disagreement still exists, all stones remaining on the board are alive, and the board is counted as it stands. (The burden is thus effectively on the player who would be disadvantaged by such a result to resume play in the event of a disagreement.)

11) The Last Move: White must make the last move--if necessary, an additional pass, with a stone passed to the opponent as usual. The total number of stones played or passed by the two players during the entire game must be equal.


Molasses Ko / AGARules last edited by 167.127.218.62 on August 26, 2011 - 18:07
RecentChanges · StartingPoints · About
Edit page ·Search · Related · Page info · Latest diff
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
RecentChanges
StartingPoints
About
RandomPage
Search position
Page history
Latest page diff
Partner sites:
Go Teaching Ladder
Goproblems.com
Login / Prefs
Tools
Sensei's Library