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Net versus ladder
    Keywords: Tactics

In general, capturing a stone in a net is considered better than capturing it in a ladder, because a net does not run the risk of a ladder block on the other side of the board.

--AndreEngels

On the other hand, if you depend on the capture of some stones to keep your group alive, a ladder is quicker (the opponent is in atari until the end). Using a net can be equivalent to losing a liberty. --MortenPahle

[Diagram]
Taisha variation

Charles Matthews There is a good example in this variation of the taisha joseki. What the books say is that

  • W7 is only playable when the ladder at a is good for White

and

  • capturing the stone B2 with White b and c isn't enough.

[Diagram]
Net continuation

If this net continuation were good, White could play at W7 in the previous diagram independent of the ladder, thereby avoiding the most difficult variations. After these plays, however, Black has a good result, and the possibility of a black peep at d remains. Also B4 forces W5. Both of these effects are there because the marked black stone is still on the board.


[Diagram]
Ladder continuation

For comparison, the usual result from the ladder variation. White's capture in the ladder forces the square-marked black stone.

(NB that the standard mistake here is White at a before capturing in the ladder: this loses sente and is an example of the 123 principle in action.)



There is also an interesting tidbit in "Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go" by Kageyama. He states that when there are two ways to capture with one move, then the firmer is correct (choose the firmer capture).

[Diagram]
Play firmly

In this example the two white stones can be captured with a geta by playing at a. However, according to Kageyama, the correct move is b which has a firmer grip on the two stones.

--ArnoHollosi

Tactical discussion of Kageyama's example



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