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FarmersHat

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Referenced by
Nakade
GuineaPigsFeedback
TheEmptyTriangleI...
KanazawaSolution11
OldMetaDiscussion
KanazawaSolution20

 

The Farmers Hat
  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Shape, Go term

[Diagram]
Diag.: The farmer's hat

The farmer's hat is a bad shape, for the same reason that TheEmptyTriangleIsBad.

Actually, you can think of this shape as of two empty triangles.

White playing 'a' and 'b' reduces the liberties for the group drastically, and a black stone at 'a' or 'b' is wasted as she'd be better off extending up or down.



Generally the idea is all right but you explanation misses the point. If White plays at 'a' or 'b' she actually would improve black's shape. If both points are filled then the shape is actually good.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Very bad shape for black

It is actually in situations like this that the farmer's hat is really ridiculous.

The marked stone has to be at 'a'.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black cannot cut at 'a'.

Black's bad shape allows white to play 1. Black cannot cut at 'a'. Furthermore the circled point is a false eye.



Minor note, but I've heard this also called the Soldier's Helmet. --BlueWyvern



This is a copy of the living page "The Farmers Hat" at Sensei's Library.
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