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Sente Sente
Path: Endgame   · Prev: Gote   · Next: SenteGote
    Keywords: EndGame

A sente-sente (or double-sente) move is a move which is sente for either player. It is always important to grab these moves as soon as possible in the endgame, because whoever plays them gets points for free - no move is lost by playing a double sente play, but it does give one points.


Example 1

[Diagram]
Diag.: Sente-sente position

The simplest sente-sente position is on the left. White can play 1 and 3 in sente. Compared to a black play (Black 1 at 3 etc.), White has two more points of territory, whereas Black has two fewer, i.e. a total of four points. Using deiri counting, this is said to be a four-point sente play for both sides. (The miai value of a double sente is a relatively large number.)

Double sente plays should normally be played whenever the value of the play is larger than other moves on the board. Since a double sente play is 'first-come first-served', they are often played earlier than that, if the sente 'threat' is large enough.

For example, in this case, if Black does not answer at 2, White can take a large chunk out of Black's territory, so this may well be played before the four-point value would normally indicate.



Example 2

[Diagram]
Diag.: Double sente

In this diagram (assuming that there is white territory to the left and black to the right), Black 1 is a double sente move. If White does not answer, Black makes a huge incursion into White's territory, while if White plays the same move, she threatens to jump into Black's. White answers at 2, and Black can also play 3 to 6 in sente. White can exchange a for b later.

It is important to play this type of move before the opponent does so: Black has gained six points here compared to a white play at 1, at no cost of moves. Giving two of these, rather common, positions to your opponent already costs over 10 points - which can easily be the difference between win and loss even at moderate levels.



However...

Double Sente is Relative


WikiMasterEdited by unkx80.



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