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Aliases
CuttingStone

Paths
Mistake

Referenced by
GoTerms
Cut
KeyStones
SuteIshi
DivideAndConquer
VisionAttackingPlay2

 

Cutting Stones
    Keywords: Tactics, Strategy, Go term

A group of stones that divides the enemy forces into two or more groups. May initially consist of a single stone at a cutting point.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Cutting stone

Here the circled black stone is a cutting stone. Black shouldn't sacrifice it, because if it lives the white group above it will be weak, and the white group on the side a little weak.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Pulling out the cutting stone

This initial play by Black is one good way to save the cutting stone from capture.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black's cutting group out into the centre

If the game goes this way Black 1 breaks the possible ladder (White 4 at 5). The result is clearly advantageous to Black. The two circled white stones have become very weak and it would be very troublesome to save them. But they are themselves cutting stones: if Black captures them, the initial cutting stone connects to the corner.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Fight in the other direction

Therefore White should take better care of the upper stones. This development is fine for Black, though.



In general, cutting stones shouldn't be sacrificed if they keep separated groups of the opponent which are even a little weak (they are key stones).


[Diagram]
Diag.: Non-cutting stones

If however stones are non-cutting, like these two circled black stones, saving them may have no strategic meaning and can be pointless.

Charles Matthews



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