Six die but eight live

  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Life & Death, Proverb

Table of contents

This concise proverb means: Six stones in a row on the second line die, but eight stones in a row live. Seven stones in a row depend on sente. [1]

This applies to the life of any group which has no eyes but a solid row of connected stones on the second line. As long as the group is firmly enclosed on the second line, the number of external liberties is irrelevant.

Eight live

[Diagram]
Eight stones live  

Here are eight white stones, firmly enclosed on the second line. They are alive.

[Diagram]
Demonstration  

Even if Black has sente, White will end up with a straight-four eyespace, which is alive. The two marked points are miai.


Seven are unsettled

[Diagram]
Seven stones are unsettled  
[Diagram]
Sente demonstration  

With seven stones and sente, White also ends up with a straight-four eye space, which is alive. The two marked points are miai.

[Diagram]
Gote demonstration  

With seven stones and gote, White ends up with a straight-three big eye. After 5, White is dead.


Six die

[Diagram]
Six stones die  
[Diagram]
Demonstration  

With six stones, even with sente, White ends up with a straight-three eye space. After 4, White is dead.


Surrounding conditions

[1] It is assumed no surrounding conditions affect this local truth:


[Diagram]

Six stones can live under a condition

If there is a white stone at one of the points a, White can threaten to connect by descending to b and make a living shape next. Therefore, depending on the surrounding position, the points a and b serve as useful aji for White.

[Diagram]

Demonstration

If Black ignores the threat, White escapes.



The following exercises include such, slightly varying, conditions.


See also


Six die but eight live last edited by RobertPauli on January 15, 2018 - 13:13
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