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Aliases (info)
CuttingStone

Paths
Mistake

Referenced by
Heavy
Cut
KeyStones
Capturing
45Point43Approach...
DivideAndConquer
CutTheKeima
LibertyNomenclature
SixKyuNoseki
BlackSheepRengo2003
SuteIshi
VisionAttackingPlay2
KanazawaSolution95
44PointLowApproac...
GoTerms
DieterSIdeasOnGoT...
LadderStrategy
BQM80
CatenaccioJosekiF...
DefectInAWall

 

Cutting stones
  Difficulty: Beginner   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]
Cutting stone

Here the BC 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]
Pulling out the cutting stone

B1 here is a good way to save the cutting stone from capture.

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

If the game goes this way B1 breaks the possible ladder (White W4 at B5).



The result is clearly advantageous to Black. The two WC 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]
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]
Non-cutting stones

If however stones are non-cutting, like these two BC 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.