Rule disputes involving Go Seigen

    Keywords: EndGame, Rules

These two games were played before rules were properly codified.

Game 1: 7th and 9th July 1948 Jubango, Go Seigen versus Iwamoto Kaoru

[Diagram]

Game 1: Go Seigen (White) versus Iwamoto Kaoru (Black)

At the end of the game, Go reminded Iwamoto that he should fill in at a. Iwamoto said that it was not neccessary because Black has more ko-threats than White. In the end, the game was judged ambiguously as "White won by 1 or 2 points". Subsequently, another judgement was passed that said that this ko must be removed and so "White won by 1 point".



Game 2: 9th and 10th January 1959 three game matches, Go Seigen versus Takagawa Shukaku

[Diagram]

Game 2: Go Seigen (White) versus Takagawa Shukaku (Black)

Applying the same decision as the first game, Takagawa reminded that Go should connect at a to avoid a ko. However, had Go connected, he would lose by half a point. Go refused by saying that White has more ko-threats than Black, and the game went into dispute for several months. Eventually, Go agreed to connect on the condition that the Nihon Ki-In fix their rules. But more than thirty years have passed and the rules are still not yet fixed.

[Diagram]

Reference: The ko

B1 and B3 are the required moves, which results in either a seki or a ko. W4 to W8 is one possible defence, resulting in a ko.


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