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KarlKnechtel

 

Bisecting A Knight Is A Big Cut Indeed
    Keywords: Proverb

KarlKnechtel:

The keima usually provides a reasonably fast way of extending and in general won't be cut. After a StrikeAtTheWaistOfTheKeima, cutting on the other side isn't possible immediately because the opponent can be caught in a ladder:

[Diagram]
Diag.: Trying to cut a keima.

(Note that the actual "strike at the waist of the keima" proverb refers to the situation where there's a supporting black stone - see the page for details. It came to mind, though.)

Of course, with two moves in a row locally, black can plough straight through. The idea behind my proverb is that doing so is usually a very big play in actual game situations, and thus black 1 is sente and a big ko threat in many cases.


Why?

[Diagram]
Diag.: Black is permitted to cut. The damage is evident, though contrived.

  • White is denied a connection between groups above and below (in the given diagram - the 'knight' is 'standing up'), which she previously was entitled to.
  • Black is granted a connection between groups to the left and right which he previously was not entitled to.
  • White's stones are placed badly; they're touching a stronger black group, and trying to support one white group lets black target the other.

See also BQM23.



lavalyn 17k:

While locally the keima is quite strong, it takes only the marked black to ensure the cut - [ext] Yomiuri Shimbun Magic of Go #179 has an article on this.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Add one stone and...


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