Spot the Empty Triangle
Here are some positions to help you practice not making empty triangles.
Example 1: connection
threatens to capture the marked cutting stones. How can Black best save them (which is often an urgent thing to do).
The bamboo joint is a more efficient shape to keep the important stones connected.
Enfors: Care to elaborate on why the bamboo joint is better than an empty triangle in this case? I don't understand.
fractic: In the empty triangle diagram there are more weaknesses in Black's shape. For example the marked points could be troublesome. The bamboo joint doesn't leave such weaknesses.
Enfors: Sorry, but I still don't understand (I'm new, can you tell?). Why are the marked points troublesome?
fractic: If when White plays black answer with
then
is a complete waste and Black has been forced around. White a would threaten to connect underneath so Black could end up in trouble. If Black doesn't play
White will play at that point and cut Black. White doesn't have to play this of course. But the fact that it's possible gives the Black position much more bad aji than the bamboo joint.
Enfors: Ah. I see now. Thanks.
Example 2: higher level efficiency
axd: Why still too close?
Bill: Because of
. Black already has a base, and is relatively secure.
extends from that base without doing much to make it secure. As a rule, then, it is too close. It doesn't accomplish much.
Counterexample
The only time you should make an empty triangle is if it is backed up by solid reading. Here's the only common example I know of.
In the presence of , a move like
is often the only way to save the two stones, even though it makes an empty triangle. But always read it out, and remember it may be best to do something else instead of saving them!
As an alternative to , a may be better in some situations.
erikpan: I have heard books refer to a 'good empty triangle'. Is the above an example of this? If not, then what does that term mean?
unkx80: As far as I know, yes.
See also: