Three-Space Notchers
Three-space notchers are groups that consist of a chain on the second line, interrupted by a notch of three empty spaces on the second line and three stones on the third. The term was invented by James Davies. See also Notchers, One-Space Notchers and Two-Space Notchers.
The rule for a three space notcher is either "Four die, Six live" or "Five is unsettled". Verify for yourself that Black can live and White can kill by playing at a in the diagram. For this reason a is called the vital point of this formation.
Classification
Marked points: weaknesses
Marked stones: legs
Classification
See notchers for the coding.
311
Even if Black takes the vital point at 1, White first destroys eyeshape, then makes miai of a and b. With one of his weak spots occupied by White, the black group's eyespace is almost filled with three in a row.
Hence 311WW, 311WN and 311WS are also dead
Black 1 makes life.
Black still needs to play at 1 to make life.
311 is dead, except for 311NS and 311SS, which can live
312
Table
See notchers for the coding.
311WW D --
311WN D --
311WS D --
311NN D --
311NS LD -
311SS LD -
xxxxxx ---
xxxxxx ---
xxxxxx ---
(work in progress)