Cutting the sake bottle shape
As one can see here, the sake bottle shape created by
in a can be cut at the weak point
in b, where Black’s weaknesses are marked
. Black can, however, choose which two of his three stones to keep connected, by playing as in c or d, where the cut-off stones are marked
.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/16/bd713110d1b91e6f267da7a4b8a69cac.png)
Another way to cut (ladder-breaker required)
Another way to cut is with the
-
combination in e, which is only possible if White has ladder-breakers for both ladders starting at
in e, to prevent Black playing f or its mirror image.
If White does have such ladder-breakers, Black’s cut-off stones may need to escape – for example with
at
in g.
A third way to cut off one of the two bottom stones is shown in h; however, Black again gets to choose which and has the option of reducing this to f (or its mirror image) if, instead of defending with
, he attacks at
. Hence White again needs both ladder-breakers, in which case
in h does not capture
.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/11/48386e8d175c62e83ade399677cdd5ed.png)
2024 the Authors,
published under the ![Sensei's Library [Welcome to Sensei's Library!]](../../images/stone-hello.png)