Tedomari

Tedomari means the last play. It is used not only for the last play of the game, but for the last play at different stages, and for the last play before the size of plays (temperature) makes a significant drop. Usually, you want to try to get tedomari but sometimes it is correct to let the opponent get tedomari. There is a saying about the last gainful play of the game, tedomari is worth double.

Getting tedomari is related to go infinitesimals and how to play them.

Table of contents Tedomari endgame problems Tedomari in mutual damage Tedomari in the opening Exercises

Tedomari endgame problems

Two problems by trucid, composer of several excellent problems where the last play is key.

• Tedomari Problem 1 by Trucid @ goproblems
• Tedomari Problem 2 by Trucid @ goproblems

A simple tedomari problem by Bill Spight

/Solution

Here's a cute little problem involving tedomari. (DGoZ 5/03) - White's turn. No komi. No captives.

/Solution

• Two nice examples from Mathematical Go are 365 and 368 at goproblems.com.

Tedomari in mutual damage

When it's down to mutual damage, you can call it 'who blinks first'. If after some plays each advancing into the opponents' territory, Black has a threat worth t and White has a threat worth t', Black hopes t is worth noticeably more than t'.

Then if it's White's turn, he can choose between (a) stop Black's threat, and so Black's play stopping White's threat gets tedomari, or (b) play the move setting up the threat but allow Black's threat too - White carrying out the threat is tedomari all right but White has already lost too much.

See more in /Discussion.

Tedomari in the opening

Tedomari applies in other stages of the game, as mentioned at the start of this page. Here is one from the fuseki. The following position is Black to play and is from the book Jobansen Kono Itte by Fujisawa Shuko:

Black to play  

Shuuko says that the correct move for Black is at the circled point, which one could call tedomari and the only move.

However, LeelaZero recommends the attachment at a.

Tedomari example 2  

If White adopts a mimic go strategy, Black can take the last big point by playing move 11 at a (tengen).

However, LeelaZero recommends Black b and if Black plays a then White c

Exercises

• Tedomari Exercise 1

Further discussion on /Discussion page.