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Points Or Ko Threats Discussion
Path: SecondCourseOnKo   · Prev: PointsOrKoThreats1AtB   · Next: KoRules
    Keywords: Ko

In the following position, Black can live in two ways. One way he gets more points, the other leaves fewer ko threats.

[Diagram]
Black to live

Black can live with a or b.


[Diagram]
Var 1 more points

This variation makes five points but leaves two ko threats. White can play at a first, and later at b.


[Diagram]
Var 2 fewer ko-threats

Now White has only one ko threat, namely a. Having played the ko-threat, either White has to leave a stone in atari or take gote to protect it.



I think variation 2 is better. What is your opinion ? And how do we trade off in general ? --DieterVerhofstadt

BillSpight: If we make the reasonable assumption that the area just above the corner is White territory, then the count of the two ways of living is the same. (White has a HaneTsugi at a, Black has one at b.) Which is better depends on the circumstances, but usually variation 2 will be better. It is hard to evaluate ko threats in the abstract, but my guess is that they are worth maybe 1/6 point, on average.

TakeNGive (11k): Unless I feel unusually safe from ko (because I have more, better, threats already, or I can't see any ko on the horizon), I'll tend to take variation 2. I guess I still have the weak kyu "fear of ko" to some degree. My games usually aren't close enough to be decided by 1 point, so I get more peace of mind from denying the opponent such a juicy threat. (It interests me to note that Black had better not play 1 at b in var.2 ...)



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