ko preparation
Difficulty: Advanced Keywords: Ko
Ko preparation moves are some kinds of manoeuvre preliminary to beginning a ko fight. They can appear somewhat mysterious.
Takao Shinji, 6d - Xu Shuxiang, 5d from the 15th Supergo NEC Cup, New Stars Match, Game 1, 2000-05-16.
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is an exchange that White normally plays with the aim of fighting a ko. If Black wants to back down, he will not answer at
. In this game, White does something before the ko. See 4-4 point low approach one-space high pincer for this joseki.
The exchange /
is ko preparation. It may also look like a waste of a ko threat.
To understand this: it does 'waste' a threat, but the second threat for White in this area is bigger. This can be called promoting a ko threat?.