Unsettled - Introductory

   

Sometimes stones will be Alive or Dead based on who plays first. Such stones are called unsettled. Look at this shape:

[Diagram]

Straight 3

This is the simplest unsettled shape, called the straight three. If black plays here first, the white stones will die.

[Diagram]

Straight 3

This makes one large eye, not enough for white to live.

[Diagram]

Straight 3

If white plays inside, black can capture immediately.

[Diagram]

Straight 3 (W2 elsewhere)

If white doesn't want to play inside, black can play inside. White can capture the two inside stones:

[Diagram]

Straight 3 result

This shape is dead. It's discussed in Dead - Introductory.

[Diagram]

Straight 3

So we come to the conclusion that this shape is dead after black plays here first. But what about when white plays?

[Diagram]

Straight 3

This shape is clearly alive with two eyes.

[Diagram]

Straight 3

For the same reason, the bent three is also unsettled: The vital point is at a. Try to see why.


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