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Value of a Ko Threat
    Keywords: Ko

Several possible meanings.

  1. Black makes a ko threat, White ignores it, Black follows up the threat and White feels obliged to answer that play, leading to a settled position. Count the swing that makes, based on comparison with the ordinary plays in that part of the board. That number is the value to Black of the threat.
  2. Valuation, probably approximate, in the same context as 1 but open-ended (no assumption that White answers Black's follow-up so that Black emerges with sente).
  3. Valuation of a 'ko threat not intended as a threat', plus a second such, ie of Black making two plays in a row while White captures and finishes the ko.

One can also speak of the value of a ko threat that is answered. If the move played as a threat was for example a one-sided sente endgame play, its value isn't normally of serious importance (it was anyway the prerogative of the player). If the value is negative - the threat is loss-making - that's something to be taken very seriously before playing it.

Charles Matthews



This is a copy of the living page "Value of a Ko Threat" at Sensei's Library.
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