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StrategicConnection

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Connection
Path: GoodPlay   · Prev: Atsui   · Next: DivideAndConquer
Path: Principles   · Prev: TwoEyes   · Next: Development

  Difficulty: Introductory   Keywords: Tactics, Go term

Strictly speaking, two or more stones are connected if they belong to the same chain, i.e. when they can only be taken from the board together. This is known as a solid connection, or katatsugi (カタ継ぎ).

[Diagram]
Example of solid connection



[Diagram]
Example 2

All the Black stones are connected, as are the White stones.


[Diagram]
Not connected

These Black stones are not connected. White can cut at the marked point. But depending on the surrounding situation, White might not be able to enforce the cut ("make it stick", not die in the process). Thus diagonally adjacent stones may be tenuously (weakly) connected.



More generally, stones are connected if the opponent can't cut them apart--that is, if it is impossible to prevent the solid connection, assuming alternating play. Stones can even be considered "connected" if the opponent can cut them, but not without serious damage to his own position.

[Diagram]
Example of more general connection



[Diagram]
Example 2: Diagonal connection

If White plays at a Black can maintain the connection at b, and vice versa. The diagonal connection (kosumi) is a prime example of miai.


Depending on how far the stones are located from each other and the amount of thinking required to assess their connectivity, we speak of tactical connection (close range, little thinking) or strategic connection (wide range, higher thinking).

There are many different kinds of connections with with ranging implications. Some connections are strong, but move across the board slowly (not gaining much territory), while the faster connections are weaker.


Further reading


Authors:

MortenPahle
Charles Matthews
DieterVerhofstadt WME, [ext] prior version



Path: GoodPlay   · Prev: Atsui   · Next: DivideAndConquer
Path: Principles   · Prev: TwoEyes   · Next: Development

This is a copy of the living page "Connection" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.