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LifeAndDeath

 

Gun Eight
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1. No outside liberties

[Diagram]
Diag.: Gun Eight

When there are no outside liberties, this 8 points large eye shape can be turned into seki or ko. 'a' is the vital point.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Main line

After W 1, B 2 threatens to kill the White stone, forcing W 3.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Continuation 1: Seki

B 4 - W 5 makes seki. W 5 - B 4 does the same. (Although W 5 indicates a desire to avoid ko. In that case Black's reply at 4 is not urgent.)

Seki is the usual result, but there is a throw-in ko.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Continuation 2: Ko

White can throw a stone into the corner to make a 2 step ko.

Black can throw in at 2 to make the same ko. However, this ko normally favors White, so Black will usually make seki.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Variation at 2: seki

This is a more straightforward way of reaching seki. 4 and 5 are miai : B5 - W4 also reaches seki.



2. Outside liberties

[Diagram]
Diag.: Gun Eight with outside liberties

As soon as there is an outside liberty, this shape is alive with 7 points.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Gun Eight with outside liberties

Thanks to the outside liberty, Black can atari at 6. Without that extra liberty, Black 6 puts himself into atari.


3. Endgame conclusions

When the last outside liberty is taken, the play on the 2-2 is normally a 3 1/2 point gote (Miai Counting).


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