Forum for Choose the firmer capture
Lack of explanation [#545]
Could somebody who understands this principle explain further why the move taken is the best? I have no idea why a should not be played and this page is referenced by a couple beginner pages including net examples 8 an 9 and ![[ext]](images/extlink.gif)
http://senseis.xmp.net/?NonLocalMoveVersusALocalMove. Thanks.
A word of sympathy. Such rules of thumb admit many exceptions.
In this case, the weakness of the White stone on the left side is significant. If it were not there, the firm capture would be inefficient. As it is, the firm capture gives that stone less flexibility.
Because the firm capture leaves no potential forcing moves for White later, whereas a leaves some aji.
I must say this is very obscure for me as well. It might be the best local move, but globally this move makes no sense for me with such big moves on the board. There are probably deep reasons for it, but it is misleading for beginners (the conveyed message is "always capture immediately any stone when you can").
Why would you think of putting an example from "Lessons in the fundamentals of go" instead? They were much clearer iirc.
The issue is not the best global move, but the correct way to deal with the left, which is after all the most urgent situation. Given that you should capture the white stone on the second line (to stop white playing 1, which makes two or three white/black stones happy/unhappy), "choose the firmer capture." With a, the white stone above has a slightly easier time.
Can't see how the article can cater to beginners. Kageyama LITF Chapter 1 is the best treatment, but here's mine.
Idea 1: If you have to spend a move to defend, spend it wisely.
Comment: Frequently this means not to be overly cautious if there is an opportunity to firmly protect the weakness while also making/maximizing points.
Idea 2: If you spend a move defending, it should defend!
Comment: Consider the simplest defense first. Although there can be indirect possibilities that will guard the weakness, these have some tradeoff with leaving aji for the opponent.
Idea 3: Removing aji is a typical goal of defense.
Comment: In settled situations, such as when Black lives by capturing a stone, aji is the only luxury the opponent will have after the defending move; in that case it can and should be minimized.
Corollary: Choose the firmer capture
![[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]](images/stone-hello.png "Sensei's Library")