Under the Stones Example 1

    Keywords: Tactics
[Diagram]

Black can live 'Under the stones'

In this example, Black needs to 'temporarily sacrifice' some stones in order to live.

[Diagram]

Stage 1

[Diagram]

Stage 2

Black cannot take White 6, that would leave Black with a false eye after White plays 7. Black plans to let White capture 1 and 5.

[Diagram]

Black lives 'Under the stones'

Once White has captured, Black can cut with 1 and make a second eye to live Under the Stones because the two white stones are caught.

-- Morten Pahle (10kyu)

[Diagram]

Black captures to live

I figured I'd throw in the resulting moves, for the novice players (like myself). -- FCS

[Diagram]

Final alternatives

If White plays at either a or b, Black should respond with the other. If White plays c, Black should capture at a. If White plays d, Black should reinforce c. a and b now become miai for Black.

Andre Engels: Minor correction: After White a, Black d also works, and makes two points of territory more than Black b.

[Diagram]

White plays 'a', Black 'b'

Wow! You're right. I completely missed that. In fact it took me a couple minutes to understand why it's better. So I guess I'll write it out for all us novices.

To the left you'll see the b response. Black ends up with two spots of territory and one captured piece. A total of 3.

[Diagram]

White plays 'a', Black 'd'

White 3 necessitates 4.

[Diagram]

Black has 5 points

Leaving this configuration. If we stop now, Black has three points of territory and captured pieces (total of 5). a and b are now miai for Black, and either of those plays will still yield 5 points.

Nifty!

-- FCS


This is a copy of the living page "Under the Stones Example 1" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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