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Geta
  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Tesuji, Go term

[Diagram]
Diag.: Geta

A geta (English term 'net') is a technique where one or a few stones are captured by blocking its exits. The basic form of a geta is shown by white 1 in this diagram. The marked black stone now cannot escape: If black plays A, white answers at B; if black C, she answers at D.


[Diagram]
Diag.: A more complicated geta

A slightly more complicated geta is white 3 in this diagram. Try to check for yourself that black can indeed not escape after this move.

In general, capturing a stone in a geta is considered better than capturing it in a shicho (ladder), because a geta does not run the risk of a ladder block on the other side of the board.

--AndreEngels

On the other hand, if you depend on the capture of a (group of) stones to keep your group alive, a shicho is quicker (the opponent is in atari until the end). Using a geta can be equivalent to losing a liberty. --MortenPahle

There is also an interesting tidbit in "Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go" by Kageyama. He states that when there are two ways to capture with one move, then the firmer is correct.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Play firm

In this example the two white stones can be captured with a geta by playing at 'a'. However, according to Kageyama, the correct move is 'b' which has a firmer grip on the two stones.

--ArnoHollosi



See also: Non Local Move Versus A Local Move


Examples added by Dieter



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