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safety play
Path: Mistake · Prev: Rigidity · Next: ShutIn An underplay that is
For example, in a competition game in a situation of time pressure, one may play in a way that probably loses points but seems on the basis of positional judgement still to leave one clearly ahead. Such plays are always deprecated, from a coaching point of view. There is no way that underplays are safe, as a habit. It may be that one cannot read everything; but getting into positions that are well beyond what one can read is deprecated, too. For example, a safety play may be used definitely to prevent an invasion of one's territory. The need for one might have been caused by an earlier mistake, such as trying to take a big corner that is really too big, and will always be subject to bad aji. On the other hand choosing a variation that simplifies into a clearly won endgame position, over another one that is complex but might lead to a larger win, cannot always be called a safety play. For example an exchange that brings the middle game to an end may theoretically lose points: but really there is no obligation on players to try to win by the largest possible margin in positions that are genuinely too complex to read out or count. There may be many ways to end a ko fight: you aren't always required to choose one that allows your opponent to fight on effectively. Therefore there is perhaps a psychological element here: not all inartistic practical plays based on trying to win the game with low risk are safety plays that should carry a stigma. Maybe there could be a point that amateurishness has to be involved, too: the low-grade safety play falls short of being honte. Interesting... But does not the proverb state: "Rich men should not pick fights."? Contrast with Contract Bridge where frequent safety plays are a hallmark of expert players. The Bridge definition being: "A play that guarantees the selected result by sacrificing the possibility of obtaining a better result.". Charles Bridge is a game of incomplete information. That's a big difference: there is skill in making the contract however badly the cards you cannot place break against you. Possible overtricks that put the contract at risk may be given up; but the scoring system must favour safety. I don't know much about bridge, but I wonder whether the comment applies equally to duplicate. Alex Weldon: Like the anonymous writer above, I'd also say that playing these "safety plays" is good, at least if your goal is to win that game, rather than to gain experience (if it's just a game for fun, perhaps seeing what your opponent can do to you will be more instructive.) Especially on IGS, where an opponent who is losing badly will often make a bunch of unreasonable invasions in the endgame, hoping I'll make a mistake, I will occasionally play a move in the endgame that is probably -1 point gote, if I'm clearly winning, and doing so will remove any chance of me screwing up and losing a group and thus the game. To quote Winston Churchill, "Victory. Victory at all costs." Charles Oh, players can always justify safety plays to themselves. Some amateur opponents are a nuisance, and just fool around when they have clearly lost: it is tempting to close down the game against such people with a succession of safety plays. Lacks fighting spirit, though. Alex Weldon: I guess it comes down to what you think the important thing is; winning, or artistry. Certainly, safety plays are ugly and inartistic... but if they guarantee a win where it would otherwise be possible to make a mistake, I don't see the problem, being a pragmatist myself. I guess you're a purist, which is fine too. :) Charles Writing on this page has made me think further. I suppose that if fear of the opponent enters as a reason, then the criticism is more just. To improve one must certainly learn to trust one's own reading, rather than back down for no real reason. See also fear. DaveSigaty: I think one issue that we all have to face in practical play is whether our "safety first" moves actually meet the criteria above for a true safety play. Too often our plays fail to help win the game because they are actually wasted moves that we would realize are unnecessary if we understood the game better :-) Timing seems critical
Context seems critical
Path: Mistake · Prev: Rigidity · Next: ShutIn This is a copy of the living page "safety play" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |