The comb formation is alive

    Keywords: Life & Death
[Diagram]
Comb formation  

The comb formation is always alive. The points a and b are miai.

[Diagram]
Comb formation  

The placement at W1 is useless. Black answers at B2, and subsequently 3 and 4 are miai.

[Diagram]
Comb formation  

When White attacks the group at W1, Black plays at B2. Now, 3 and 4 are miai.

[Diagram]
Comb formation  

White W3 here threatens a snapback at a. There is nothing to worry though, as B4 does the trick.

--unkx80

[Diagram]
Losing Liberties  

Shaydwyrm: A key feature of this shape is that white may take away black's outside liberties in sente. For example, W1 in this diagram forces B2 or a, to prevent white from playing at W2 and killing with the sequence a-d.

[Diagram]
Losing Liberties  

Likewise when white takes the other liberty with W1, black must again respond or suffer the sequence a-c, which is double atari. These moves by white should not be played immediately, but are good ko threats - the chance to play them is unlikely to disappear, since black pushing out will be gote.

hnishy Though B2 completes 'the comb' nicely, is in fact a small mistake because it gives White two ko threats at a and c. Black should defend at a or c, leaving just one ko threat.



The comb formation is alive last edited by hnishy on May 17, 2018 - 09:28
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