Capture two, recapture one

captures two White stones...

... and recaptures the stone.

is a legal move even if played immediately after .

Also, this sequence gives no eye to Black.

Endgame Value

The position (Dia. 1) is a 1 point ambiguous endgame. The value and timing is similar to that of ordinary gote endgames with 2 point swing.

There are three possible lines of play:

1. White connects - score: 0 points.
2. Black captures two (Dia. 2), White recaptures one (Dia. 3) - score: 1 point.
3. Black captures two (Dia. 2), Black connects - score: 3 points.

If the score of the third outcome was greater than 3, it would be sente. If it was less than 3, it would be gote with gote follow-up. However, the actual value is exactly on the limit, which makes it ambiguous.

After black captures (Dia. 2), the position has a count of 2 (the average score of the two possible continuations). This means, the initial move and the follow-up (in case black moves first) both have a value of 1 point.

Since the value of the follow-up is exactly the same as the value of the initial move, white will usually respond to the black capture as shown in Dia. 3.

Depending on who plays first, the total number of 1 point endgames on the board changes. This can be used to get Tedomari, as demonstrated in this problem.

Equivalent positions

In terms of endgame, the following position is equivalent to "Capture two, recapture one" (Dia. 1).

"Capture two, recapture one" in life and death situations

There are a lot of situations where this sequence is a possible variation, the consequences of which are easily overlooked. An example:

Black to live. The combination of the marked shape with the 1-2 point is very common in life and death problems. Yet our desire to atari may overcome us:

This is a line easily visualized and often played by both players if they fail to see the meaning of this shape.

White plays and recaptures a stone with at after takes two stones. Black is dead.

Black's correct move is the 1-2 point. White can't play at a due to shortage of liberties. If White next b, Black a gives life.

For another example, see The long L group with an outside liberty.