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Ko Threat Cards
    Keywords: Ko

Charles Matthews I'm interested in models of ko fights, partly to get the theory straight in terms I find intuitive, and partly for expository reasons.

There is a good card game model which has drawbacks (restrictive hypotheses, and lack of 'continuity' if you assume the game of go isn't finished by the fight). It's pretty accessible, though.

For that assume there is a definite stake (pile of coins) that represents the gain to be had by winning the ko fight. Each of the players Black and White has cards marked with numbers that represent values of ko threats.

The play of the game: say Black starts. He puts down a card. White can either take the stake and pay Black the number on the card. Or White can play a card (in which case Black's card is out of the game), and now Black has the corresponding choice. This continues until someone takes the stake.

Naturally to apply this model to ko fights, we assume that each player can see all the cards. Then the correct strategy for this game is known, and is also something one can work out.



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