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Living shapes & dead shapes (1)
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Now we are well aware that a surrounded
group needs two "eyes" to be alive. The question is: how many
internal liberties do we need to make two eyes? Let's study this matter...
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In this diagram we have a group matching the description but ... still dead. White can play at A or B capturing black with his next move. |
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If the liberties are separated only two are enough.. |
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If the liberties are connected like in this figure then we can make life...but we need to add one more stone. If not ... |
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The marked stone makes it impossible for black to make two eyes. |
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This is the "vital point" and by playing at 1 black is alive with two eyes. |
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This is the same as before. Black has three liberties and the outcome depends on who plays first. |
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White can kill... |
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Or black can live... |
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How about 4 liberties? Much easier isn't? Well, right but depends on the shape of that 4 liberties.. |
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In this shape even if white plays first (the triangled stone) black can live with the circled stone. |
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The same here... |
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Black is alive... |
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Not big difference... |
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Black still alive... |
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Oops! Four liberties but... |
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What happends if white playes first? If black answers in any point, we get back to the shape with 3 liberties and white already placed in the middle so ... black is just dead. |
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If black plays elsewhere with 1 and 3 then white can kill it by sacrificing at 2 and 4 and, after black captures at 5, white will play in the middle (triangled point) so black dies. Of course white is not forced to play like this, black is dead anyway so at the end of game the black stones will be just removed from the board (as prisoners). This is a rule also! AT THE END OF A GAME THE STONES THAT CAN'T BE SAVED WILL BE REMOVED AS PRISONERS! |
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So, in this shape, although black has four internal liberties, he needs one more move to make life. |
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How about this one? Four liberties but... |
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Even if black plays one more move white will kill his group. This shape is actually A BIG EYE... |
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