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Second Line Connection
   

There may be a GoTerm for this, but I don't know it, so I trust others to fill it in if required.

See watari.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Basic second line connection

The marked white stone connects her two strings of stones on the 2nd line. In this diagram, there is no way that Black can cut them apart. If Black cuts at the circled points, he is caught in a ladder.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Dangerous second line connection

However, the connection on the second line is dangerous because the opponent can cut on one side to be able to cut on the other side in sente. Here, the marked white stones are in danger. If Black cuts at a and White plays x without thinking, Black can cut at b in sente which allows him to play c and capture the two white stones. In a case like this, where the cut at a does not threaten anything in itself, White should answer the cut by connecting at b herself, and Black will have lost his stone at a. (In addition, White will say 'thank you for removing my weakness' because a black play directly at c would have been a big endgame play, but now is no longer possible.)


[Diagram]
Diag.: Failed second line connection

Some connections on the second line just do not work, even if you reply 'correctly' to the cuts. In this example, Black's cuts at either of the circled points will work.

--MortenPahle



This is a copy of the living page "Second Line Connection" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.