Sente Sente

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A sente-sente (or double-sente) move is a move which is sente for either player. It is always important to grab these moves as soon as possible, because whoever plays them gets points for free - no move is lost by playing a double sente play, but it does give one points.

Note: However ... Double Sente is Relative.


Example 1

[Diagram]

Sente-sente position

The simplest sente-sente position is on the left. White can play W1 and W3 in sente. Compared to a black play (Black 1 at 3 etc.), White has two more points of territory, whereas Black has two fewer, i.e. a total of four points. Using deiri counting, this is said to be a four-point sente play for both sides. (The miai value of a double sente is a relatively large number.)

Double sente plays should normally be played whenever the value of the play is larger than other moves on the board. Since a double sente play is 'first-come first-served', they are often played earlier than that, if the sente 'threat' is large enough.

For example, in this case, if Black does not answer at B2, White can take a large chunk out of Black's territory, so this may well be played before the four-point value would normally indicate.


Example 2

[Diagram]

Double sente

In this diagram (assuming that there is white territory to the left and black to the right), B1 is a double sente move. If White does not answer, Black makes a huge incursion into White's territory. White can play the same move at 1, threatening to jump into Black's. White answers at W2, and Black can also play B3 and B5 in sente. White can exchange a for b later.

It is important to play this type of move before the opponent does so: Black has gained six points here compared to a white play at 1, at no cost of moves. Giving two of these, rather common, positions to your opponent already costs over 10 points - which can easily be the difference between win and loss even at moderate levels.

See How Big is the 6 point Double Sente


Author: Morten Pahle. WikiMasterEdited by unkx80.


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This is a copy of the living page "Sente Sente" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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