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Base
  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Life & Death, Go term

A 'base' is an area you control that is large enough for you to build one or more eyes. It usually refers to groups on the side and in the corner.


[Diagram]
Diag.: A base on the side

This two-space extension on the third line is a classic example of a base on the side. Note that this shape is not yet alive, but unless White is very strong in the neighborhood it may be infeasible to attack the black stones effectively.



Many josekis are actually about establishing a base for one's stones or preventing your opponent from making a base (e.g. see "Answer Keima With Kosumi")

To summarize: why is making a base important?

  • It makes a group stronger (maybe even alive);
  • It makes it less vulnerable to attack;
  • It gives you something to extend from or flee to.

--ArnoHollosi, 1d


(Non-standard usage here):

A base is a group of stones which can't be killed. A group gains this status when it has at least two eyes. One of the greatest things about a base is that any stones connected to the base are also invincible.

Of course, strictly defining a group into two eyes is something which would usually be left until the end game (unless attacked), so bases are often assumed if you have enough eye space. (And what constitutes "enough" eye space is a WHOLE nother topic -- life and death problems)

--FCS


Eye shapes moved to basic live shapes.



This is a copy of the living page "Base" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.