Snapback

Snapback  

The stones are caught in snapback, a tactical situation beginners will learn to recognize early in their study.

Black can capture, but...  

Black can capture with . (In practice, he would never do this except possibly as a ko threat.)

The resulting position has only one liberty  

But that leaves the stones with only one liberty, so...

So Black will immediately be retaken  

can immediately capture the three Black stones.

Setting up a snapback

Throwing in to create a snapback  

It's common for a throw-in to be used to create a snapback position.

Another way to create a snapback  

But it could just as easily be created by a move such as here.

More applications

 

here forces White to capture at a, after which playing at again captures.

A common joseki  

Threatening to capture stones in a snapback (or threatening to threaten to) can be powerful, as seen in this joseki. This diagram shows the result of a common joseki (for the 4473 enclosure) where White invaded at the 3-3 point under Black's 4-4 point. can hardly be omitted.

Threatening to threaten a snapback  

If Black tenukis, threatens to play at , which would threaten a snapback, forcing Black to connect cravenly at a. Thus, it is best for Black to play at himself, creating a bamboo joint shape. But now White can move out with his cutting stones, starting a fight. (Of course, if Black is already strong on the top or left, playing tenuki might be possible and has been seen in professional games.)

A variation  

In some professional games, White has made the stand at before living. In this situation too it is best for Black to play , but now White will need to return to play . Black may then surround at , but the White stones retain troublesome potential.