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Ambiguous
AmbiguousPlay

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Endgame

Referenced by
Sente
Temperature
KoThreatFunctions
FollowUp
Chilling
DoubleSenteIsRela...
MetaDiscussion
KoThreatPlayingOrder
EndgameClamp
OngoingGame1Move249
SemedoriExample2
AmbiguousPosition...
OngoingGame1
MoreInfinitesimals
AlmostSente
SenteOrGote
1001ProblemsErratum5
HoligorSRantOnYose
OG2W150TheScore
TertiaryKoThreat

 

Ambiguous Position
Path: Endgame   · Prev: ReverseSente   · Next: SenteSente
    Keywords: EndGame

The Ongoing Game has a position that, with a couple of changes, is ambiguous whether it is sente or gote.
Also see OngoingGame1Move249 after White's play.

[Diagram]
Either sente or gote?

Black has a 1 point gote (miai counting) with Black a - White b, Black c, or a one-point sente play with Black c - White a.

It is not unusual to have both sente and gote options in a position, but we typically consider a position to be sente or gote according to the largest option. Here they are the same size, and the position is ambiguous.

Note: A question about this diagram by Georg Mischler is discussed on Ambiguous Position Discussion.
A question by Jesusin about which one-point play to make is also discussed there.



Here is another kind of ambiguous position:

[Diagram]
Neither/nor ?

This play is worth three points. If White saves one stone, there is another three point play left.

This isn't exactly sente, because White cannot normally make the play at a time when Black cannot afford to play here instead. But it isn't exactly gote, either, because White will normally make the play when Black's reply will be the largest play on the board. It's ambiguous.

For another example, see 1001 Problems Erratum 5. -- BillSpight



Path: Endgame   · Prev: ReverseSente   · Next: SenteSente
This is a copy of the living page "Ambiguous Position" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.