Snapback

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  Difficulty: Introductory   Keywords: Tactics, Go term

A snapback (Japanese: utte-gaeshi or utte-gae) is a play which captures enemy stones using one or more sacrifice stones.

Table of contents Table of diagrams
A snapback
If Black captures

A common joseki
Black's escape
Black is captured

Example with one stone

[Diagram]

A snapback

W1 in the diagram captures the two BC stones in a snapback.

[Diagram]

If Black captures

This means that Black can capture the white stone just played with B2, but it puts the group into atari. Thus White can capture the stones by playing at a next.

So, W1 above effectively captures the two BC stones in a snapback although W1 itself can be captured.

Black should not want to play B2 (no point improving White's liberties and eye shape); but it can be used as ko threat.


Example with two stones

[Diagram]

It is possible to set up a snapback of two stones, like in this diagram. =) --unkx80


Example from joseki

Threatening to capture stones in a snapback is an effective tesuji, as in this joseki:

[Diagram]

A common joseki

This diagram shows the result of a common joseki (for the 4473 enclosure) where White invaded at the 3-3 point under Black's 4-4 point. Usually this joseki ends with Black playing where White's marked stone is. But if taking sente has priority it is not uncommon to omit this move.[1]

So in this diagram White played at this point. If Black now plays around a or extends along the upper side Black is in for a nasty surprise: White plays W1. This threatens a snapback at 2 and is tesuji. In order to avoid losing stones to capture, Black plays B2. But White follows with W3 and captures the whole group. There is no way out for Black (Black b is answered by White c).

-- Arno Hollosi


Hail hail to the snapback

The snapback is one of the first tesujis aspiring Go players learn and employ with satisfaction.

(Arno Hollosi)

A snapback could be seen as a basic kind of under the stones play. -- Doug Ridgway


There is a tesuji for black to escape.

[Diagram]

Black's escape

W6 at B7 does not work either.

[Diagram]

Black is captured

Arno: I am pretty confident that the black stones are captured after this sequence.


See also:


[1]

Bill: Do the pros commonly tenuki to take sente in that position? Is that really joseki?


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This is a copy of the living page "Snapback" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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