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Basics on kos
Path: KoFighting   · Prev:   · Next: KoThreatsBasic
  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Ko

Ko fights can sometimes be a bit confusing and the 'optimal' way of playing can be highly complex. However, the principle underlying ko fights is simple:

  • When your opponent starts a ko, you are not allowed to retake immediately, and you have to play somewhere else. If your opponent is allowed to play his next stone connecting the ko, he has won the ko.
  • The winner of the Ko (the one who takes and connects) should gain something from it. This may be the life of his group, or the death of his opponent's group, or the reduction of his opponent's territory, etc. (This is why he wants to win it, and his opponent wants to win it, too)
  • In order to stop him from winning the ko (essentially, being allowed to play two stones in a row, taking and then connecting), you play what is known as a ko threat. A ko threat is a play which, if left unanswered, will lead to a certain gain to you. Because, if the ko-threat is not answered, you get to play two stones there. (Your opponent connecting the ko in the meantime.)
  • When deciding whether to answer the ko-threat or to connect the ko, your opponent should consider the value of the ko-threat and the value of the ko. In general, he should connect the ko if the threat is worth less than the Ko, or answer the threat if the ko is worth less than the threat.

KarlKnechtel:

"Winning a ko" does not always consist of connecting after taking. Sometimes you must instead capture the opponent, because (for example) connecting the ko would be auto-atari.

That can be the case when the ko resolves a capturing race, (More at KarlKnechtelSKoStory.)


  • If your opponent answers your ko-threat, the situation reverses; you can retake the ko and it is up to him to find a ko-threat which you have to answer, he can retake, you threaten etc. etc.

-- MortenPahle



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