[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]

StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About


Paths
Endgame

Referenced by
GoTheoryAndCGTDis...
TemperatureAndTer...

Homepages
HuOfKGS

 

Sente Gains Nothing
Path: Endgame   · Prev: DeiriValue   · Next: TedomariIsWorthDouble
  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: Proverb

This proverb seems counterintuitive. Sente certainly feels like it gains something! ;-) And, strictly speaking, it is not true. Sente does gain something: It keeps the opponent from playing the reverse sente.[1]

   Meeisenberg?: What is the intended meaning of this proverb?

Using the simile in Winning Ways, playing sente is like cashing a check before it expires. You are claiming what is rightfully yours. Playing sente (and getting a response) normally leaves the count unchanged.[2]

When you are estimating the score, you assume that sente plays are made and answered, for precisely the reason that the count stay the same.

Example:

[Diagram]
Diag.: Sente gains nothing

After the sente sequence, W 1 - B 2, Black has 4 points of territory in the corner. We still count the corner as 4 points for Black before the sente. We consider White as owning the sente, because of its large threat. Under normal circumstances White will be able to play at 1 with sente before Black can afford to play the reverse sente.



[1] Sometimes making a sente play gains because your opponent does not reply. For instance, he may ignore a ko threat. That is not what this proverb is about.

[2] On occasion, you should play sente and take a loss. For instance, it may be worth it to play a losing ko threat. Or it may be best to take a loss to prevent your opponent from taking the local play when you give up sente.



Path: Endgame   · Prev: DeiriValue   · Next: TedomariIsWorthDouble
This is a copy of the living page "Sente Gains Nothing" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.