Approach ko question
tapir: General idea is, that you start a ko only when the moves in the ko are worth more than the average move elsewhere (ambient temperature). However ambient temperature is a model that hardly accounts for kos, that are fighted for some moves but then left unresolved, the changes that happen when an approach move is played in an approach move ko etc.
The whole timing question is crucial but there isn't much help from pages here on SL. Especially for non-direct kos.
Example approach ko
24 pt. one-sided 1-move-approach ko - local tally is 4, average value is 6. But when the ambient temperature hits 6 is it really the right time to start the ko? Because, average value is just average value, what is the value of the effectively first move you play (the approach move)? Compare with the situation after playing the approach move.
24 pt. direct ko, local tally is 3, average value is 8. Oh, wait the average value is 8, everything is still at stake, what was then the value of the winning the ko once? Turning it into a direct ko, pretty small. (Local count is 6 before, 8 after the approach move, the gain by the approach move is only 2.)
2+8+8 still makes 18 and an average gain of 6, but the unfortunate fact is the first move in an approach ko is an underperformer it gains less, while the later moves after the approach move is played are "hotter". So when do I start playing it? When average move value is 6, or 2, or between?
(What does losing the direct ko after playing an approach move means? Exchanging a 2 pt. move for an 8 pt. move? How can I omit this? How big have my threats in an approach ko to be?)