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Reading the definition of two stage ko carefully, the ko produces a new ko mouth. Here, I believe we have an approach ko, in which the approach move is a ko itself. By that token, the colour favoured by the position can switch cyclically with the side from which the approach move is played. However, one side can always finish the main ko by ignoring a ko threat, which is not true for a 2-stage ko.
IMO "cyclic approach ko" would be a better name for this page.
Bill: OC, these positions are not two stage kos in form, hence, the appellation, synthetic. However, they do function as two stage kos, not at all like approach kos. The third one, however, is very much like a 10,000 year ko, and perhaps may be considered as one. :)
I still stick to my point. In the first diagram, white Needs An extra move Before starting the real ko and that extra move happens to be a ko itself
Hello. Wouldn't your "cyclic approach ko" argument apply equally to standard two-stage kos (one side can always finish the ko by ignoring a threat, it can)? For me the main idea behind approach ko is asymmetry due to approach moves required by one side - the whole "cyclic approach" obscures this, imho. Cheers, tapir.