Cutting the Keima

  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Shape, Tactics

Keima

[Diagram]

Reference diagram

This is a keima. It can be cut at a or b



Do not cut without support

[Diagram]

Cutting a keima

Cutting the keima without support will usually strengthen the opponent.

After the cut with B1 and B3, White has extended from a crosscut and sente which is very advantageous for him. Next, W4 may capture the cutting stone in a ladder

So, cutting a keima is only advised when the attacker has support from other stones.



A genuine cut

[Diagram]

Cutting

When black+circle is present, the cut becomes more severe. If the ladder at a works for Black, B1 is a genuine cut.

Striking at the waist of the keima is usually the correct way to cut. We refer to that page to understand why that is so.

[Diagram]

Very severe

If on top of black+circle, there is also a black stone black+square, the same sequence results in a very severe cut.



Comparing to the one space jump

[Diagram]

No effective cut

If we compare the previous sequence with this one, where Black tries to cut a one space jump, we can see that White is reinforced and black+circle weakened, even if Black can next continue to cut at a. We can say Black has effectively cut himself here rather than White.

These diagrams show why, in hostile environment, the more stable one space jump is preferable for defending, whereas a keima is often more appropriate for attacking purposes in friendly environment.



Further reading


This is a copy of the living page "Cutting the Keima" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2014 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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