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Gun Eight Discussion
   

I was explaining to my younger brother how he could use the following position as a source of kothreats.

[Diagram]
Diag.: L+2

I asked him, if he were to play twice with White, which points he would choose. He chose the marked ones. Very good I said, this way you threaten seki, taking 8 points from me, which is much more than the 1-point ko we are fighting.

What I ignored, was the fact that playing the 2-2 point actually makes seki !!!


[Diagram]
Diag.: Seki

2 and 3 are miai; so are 4 and 5


This must be known to many of you, but I didn't. When the endgame comes to 8 point gote moves, Black has to reinforce.


Bill Spight: This is a standard position.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Standard sequence

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


[Diagram]
Diag.: 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.: Ko

White can throw a stone into the corner to make a 2 step ko. Or Black can throw in at 2 to make the same ko.

However, this ko normally favors White, so Black will usually make seki.
The play on the 2-2 is then normally a 3 1/2 point gote (Miai Counting).




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