86 <strong>- Relative Strength</strong> is always influenced by and is frequently extremely sensitive to even small changes in the proximity and configuration
104 <strong>Diagram 1</strong>Although the White corner stones are almost completely enclosed, they’re safe and strong because there is no way that Black can directly prevent them from making two eyes!<br><br>
105 The problem with White’s strength here is that, except for the territory enclosed it’s essentially wasted, because these stones are almost completely cut off from any interaction with the remainder of the board.
128 <strong>Diagram 2</strong>When W2 is distantly squeezed by B3, making contact via W4 on the 3-3 point begins several popular Joseki variants.<br><br>
130 In this variant, after the W8, B9 exchange White’s shape is good and he may safely play elsewhere, because either W“a” or “b” will assure his two eyes!<br><br>
151 <strong>Diagram 3</strong>The White corner is large enough and configured well enough that it’s virtually as strong as if it already had eyeshape.<br><br>
173 <strong>Diagram 4</strong> The upper left corner of this Fuseki, contested in the 2006 North American Masters tournament between Ming Jiu Jiang 7P (Black) and Z Chen 6D (White),
174 shows a not uncommon type of local resolution, in which Black has created superb thickness (and a burgeoning left side moyo in conjunction with his B5-11 stones below), in return
198 <strong>Diagram 5</strong> At the moment, the virtual connection between White’s three marked stones and his two-eyed corner group is safe because if B“a”, W“b”, B“c”, W“d” connects.<br><br>
199 But this connection is not absolutely secure, because, if played as a Ko threat that White can’t afford to answer, any of B“a”, “b”, “c” or “d” will set up a cut.<br><br>
221 <strong>Diagram 6</strong> The marked White stones have the beginnings of both shape and modest territorial enclosure, plus free center access. So they are safe for the moment. But until the local situation is definitively resolved, White must be wary of their being later undercut, separated, and/or enclosed.<br><br>
241 <strong>Diagram 7</strong> The Black stones both above and below the 3 Whites are relatively strong because they have reasonable eyemaking potential at the edge. The Whites are somewhat weaker because it’s somewhat harder to make eyes in the center.<br><br>
242 But the White stones are far from being completely without resources, because they aren’t anywhere near being enclosed. They have lots of room to run (to “a”), or to make eyespace and shape if necessary, beginning with either “b”, “c”,“d”, “e”, or “f”as
244 Because these stones are currently far from being settled, White must continue to monitor this situation very carefully, especially if B“a” is played.<br><br>
259 The relative weakness of a group exhibiting one or more of these deficiencies is a function of the seriousness of the deficiencies, how many of them it exhibits, whether or not the group is enclosed, and whether or not it’s involved in a fight with an equivalently weak opposing group.<br><br>
260 In general, groups which exhibit deficiencies in more than one of these areas and/or are enclosed are weaker than those which are deficient in only one area and/or are not enclosed, but that’s not universally true because a even a single deficiency can be fatal if it’s sufficiently great!<br><br>
261 Caution! Maintaining Sente is always advantageous, but is especially so when involved in a semeai with opposing stones because it not infrequently develops that winning that fight is more a function of who can strike first or most effectively at the opponent’s weaknesses, than of who can best defend his own.<br><br>
289 This not only provides Black with excellent shape, but does so without inducing White to strengthen the 2 stones below, which may now be potentially vulnerable.<br><br>
317 the cut of B5 separates White. But after B9 and W10 the overall result is considered even, and that’s why the 2 point skip in Dia 11 is Joseki!<br><br>
354 This is generally an excellent guideline. But as with all other such criteria it has exceptions, so every position must be judged on its individual merits.<br><br>
356 The beauty and power of this elegant criterion is that in many cases it makes it possible to find the right move (or at least avoid a seriously wrong move) without
358 Simply knowing that a given proposed defensive move will leave a key group with less than 5 liberties is usually an indication (but not an absolute proof) that those
360 Conversely, knowing that a proposed defensive move will yield at least 5 liberties for a threatened group is an indication (but also not a proof) that it isn’t likely to die immediately or easily.<br><br>
362 Failure to obey this simple precept is a prime cause of many of the tactical debacles which surprise and plague beginning and intermediate players, as the following examples demonstrate.<br><br>
384 <strong>Dia 13</strong></b> This is the beginning of a “the main line” of a popular Joseki which frequently arises in both handicap and even games.<BR><br>
386 After B4 and W5 the relevant question to our present interest is what Black should play next, and the 5-Liberty Criterion provides the answer!<br><br>
395 <strong>Dia 14</strong></b> The extension of B6 is necessary, and when it’s correctly played as shown the 3 stone unit that it completes then has 5 liberties, and so is “contact stable” - i.e. able to fight successfully.<br><br>
396 After W11, White has secured the corner territory plus egress along the right side. In return W1 is temporarily abandoned, while Black has 6 liberties, thickness, plus some territorial potential along the bottom.<br><br>
410 <strong>Diagram 15</strong> Here B6 is played as a “Hane at the head of two stones”, a well known Tesuji which is often the best move, but which is a disastrous error in this position!<br><br>
412 The reason it’s wrong here is that it leaves the two stone B4 unit with only 4 liberties, and therefore “contact unstable” - i.e. lacking enough liberties to sustain a fight.<br><br>
413 An alert White will immediately take advantage of this via the Hane underneath of W7, followed by B8 and the two forced connections of W9 and B10. Then when W11 cuts, not only is B6 isolated, but (more important) the B4 -10 4-stone unit has only 3 liberties, and is in serious trouble!<br><br>
440 <strong>Dia 16</strong> In this variation White gets an enormous corner by capturing the 5 B14-20 stones, and B“a”to trap the 3 White stones doesn’t work! So B“b” to escape is necessary.
444 <strong>Dia 17</strong> This continuation is somewhat better for Black, although White is not only alive in the corner with the sequence B“a”, W“b”, B“c”, W“d”, but also has tremendous
453 There are also many other possible continuations after the cut of W11 in Dia 15, some better than those shown and some worse, but all are inferior for Black because of his violation of the 5-Liberty Criterion!<br><br>
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