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2
3 <!-- Mirrored from users.eniinternet.com/bradleym/Ch1.html by HTTrack Website Copier/3.x [XR&CO'2014], Sun, 06 Nov 2022 06:53:55 GMT -->
4 <head>
5 <title> Improve Fast In Go - Milton N. Bradley</title>
6 </head>
7 <link rel="stylesheet" href="style2.css">
8 <body bgcolor="#E0FFFF">
9 <a name="top">
10
11 <center><br><br>
12 <font class="booktitle"><font size=+4>
13 Improve <I>Fast</I> In Go
14 </font>
15 <br><br>
16
17 <h1>
18 <font class="chaptitle"><font size=+2>
19 &copy; Milton N. Bradley 2008
20 </font>
21 <hr></h1></center>
22 <br><br>
23
24
25 <center><a name="Chapter1">
26 <font class="chaptitle"><font size=+2>
27 <strong>Chapter 1 - The Role Of Fighting In Go</strong>
28 </font><br>
29
30 </center>
31 <font size=+0>
32 <br><br>
33 The financial investment model is an appropriate, if rather grossly simplified, way to grasp the essence of a Go game. Think of the stones you play as your investment capital,
34 and the resulting territory you acquire as the return on that investment. It’s well established that a prudent financial strategy invariably requires a judicious balance between
35 long and short term investments. It’s much the same in a Go game, where the balance that must be struck is between profit (short term) and such relative intangibles as thickness
36 and attack (long term). In this balancing process, it’s often feasible to cede even a large temporary lead in solid profit to the opponent, in the expectation of later recouping.
37 But <I>whatever the chosen strategic mix in any given game, at game’s end the sole determinant of victory or defeat is the amount of empty board space controlled by each side.</I><br><br>
38 Capturing more stones than the opponent, or even capturing any opposing stones at all, is essentially irrelevant except as it contributes toward that goal.<br><br>
39 Given that fact, it might seem that victory should be achievable through the simple walling off of areas by both sides. But that’s not true! Even if that primitive strategy (pejoratively
40 termed “ground gaining Go”) could be successfully followed initially, the finite size of the Go board coupled with the fact that both sides are seeking to gain control of the same limited
41 amount of space means that conflict is ultimately inevitable. And that’s especially true when one side or the other realizes it has fallen behind in acquiring territory and can only recoup
42 by “stealing” a portion of what the opponent has claimed. So in well played Go games the confrontations usually begin early, and then are almost invariably crucial in determining the final outcome.<br><br>
43 As a result, perhaps the major key to making appropriate strategic decisions lies in understanding that:<br><br>
44
45 <center>
46 <br><table class="txtbox">
47 <tr>
48 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
49 <td align="middle" valign="top">
50 <br>
51 <font class="txtboxbig">
52 Go Is A Fighting Game
53 </font>
54
55 <br><br>
56 </td>
57 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
58 </tr>
59 </table><br><br>
60 </center>
61
62 This should distinctly not be interpreted as implying that fighting is all there is to Go, because nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, fighting is perhaps best understood as the
63 essence around which all of the many subtleties and complexities of Go tactics and strategy coalesce to produce the wonderful game which has intrigued humanity for millennia.<br><br>
64
65 <strong>The Basic Principles Of Fighting</strong>
66
67
68 <center>
69 <br><table class="txtbox">
70 <tr>
71 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
72 <td align="middle" valign="top">
73 <br>
74 <font class="txtboxbig">
75 The Life Or Death Of Groups<br>
76
77 Is The Central Issue In Fighting
78 </font>
79 <br><br>
80 </td>
81 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
82 </tr>
83 </table><br><br>
84 </center>
85
86 Although most high level Go games are decided as a result of fights, those fights are anything but random, mindless conflict for its own sake! Quite the contrary. Fights between competent
87 opponents occur only because both sides are unavoidably competing for control of the limited assets of space, shape and connectivity available on the 361 intersection Go board.<br><br>
88
89 <center>
90 <br><table class="txtbox">
91 <tr>
92 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
93 <td align="middle" valign="top">
94 <br>
95 <font class="txtboxsmall">
96 Only Fights Involving Important Groups<br>
97
98 Are Likely To Be Productive
99 </font>
100 <br><br>
101 </td>
102 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
103 </tr>
104 </table><br><br>
105 </center>
106
107 How to identify important groups is the subject of Chapter 2.<br><br>
108
109 <center>
110 <br><table class="txtbox">
111 <tr>
112 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
113 <td align="middle" valign="top">
114 <br>
115 <font class="txtboxsmall">
116 Only Fights Against Weak Groups<br>
117
118 Are Likely To Be Successful
119 </font>
120 <br><br>
121 </td>
122 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
123 </tr>
124 </table><br><br>
125 </center>
126
127 How to identify weak groups and determine when and why they are vulnerable is the subject of Chapters 3 and 4.<br><br>
128 When attacking vulnerable groups is most likely to be successful is the subject of Chapters 5 - 7.<br><br>
129
130 Rather<br><br>
131
132 <center>
133 <br><table class="txtbox">
134 <tr>
135 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
136 <td align="middle" valign="top">
137 <br>
138
139 <font class="txtboxsmall">
140 Gratuitous Fights For Their Own Sake<br>
141 Are Almost Always A Mistake
142 </font>
143 <br><br>
144 </td>
145 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
146 </tr>
147 </table><br><br>
148
149 </center>
150
151 <center>
152 <br><table class="txtbox">
153 <tr>
154 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
155 <td align="middle" valign="top">
156 <br>
157 <font class="txtboxsmall">
158 Fight Only In Pursuit Of <br>
159
160 Strategically Important Objectives<br><br>
161 And Only When And To The Extent<br>
162 Absolutely Necessary
163 </font>
164 <br><br>
165 </td>
166 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
167 </tr>
168
169 </table><br><br>
170 </center>
171
172 <table>
173 <tr>
174 <td align="left" valign="top">
175 <img src="C1D1.jpg" border="1">
176
177 </td>
178
179 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
180
181 <td valign="top" align="left">
182 <br><br><br><br><br>
183 <strong>Diagram 1</strong> In this game between a 5D and a 7D, the atari of B1 on the marked White stone has forced the connection of W2, with (small) advantage to Black
184 because B1 not only separates White and is potentially useful, but also because W2 only adds insignificantly to White’s already thick formation.<br><br>
185 The key question now is how Black should best continue.<br><br>
186
187 </td>
188 </tr>
189 </table>
190
191 <br><br>
192
193 <table>
194 <tr>
195 <td align="left" valign="top">
196 <img src="C1D2.jpg" border="1">
197
198 </td>
199
200 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
201 <td valign="top" align="left">
202
203
204 <strong>Diagram 2</strong> The exchange of the atari of B1 for W2 on the left has created useful Aji for Black to exploit at the proper moment, but continuing there immediately
205 to support/utilize the 2 Black stones would only prematurely start a fight that would almost certainly be to Black’s detriment!<br><br>
206 As things stand, Black’s absolutely essential play is B3!<br><br> This begins to sketch out a Black corner in the lower right while partially neutralizing the White thickness,
207 and also prevents the excellent extension/kakari of W“a”, and leaves the decision regarding what to do with the 2 Black stones on the left for later. (In the actual game, the proper
208 moment to support those stones never arrived!)
209 <br><br>
210
211 </td>
212 </tr>
213 </table>
214 <br><br>
215
216 <table>
217 <tr>
218 <td align="left" valign="top">
219 <img src="C1D3.jpg" border="1">
220
221 </td>
222
223 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
224 <td valign="top" align="left">
225 <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
226
227 <strong>Diagram 3</strong> In this game between two 7 D’s, White has retained Sente, so it’s his choice as to how to proceed from this point forward.<br><br>
228 Invading the wide extension between B1 and B21 seems inviting. But is it really? And if it’s not, what would be better? And why?
229 <br><br>
230
231 </td>
232 </tr>
233 </table>
234 <br><br>
235
236 <table>
237
238 <tr>
239 <td align="left" valign="top">
240 <img src="C1D4.jpg" border="1">
241
242 </td>
243
244 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
245 <td valign="top" align="left">
246 <br><br><br><br><br>
247 <strong>Diagram 4</strong> This is the sort of position in which it’s tempting to start a fight by invading with W2! Although that might conceivably succeed,
248 the 7D who played White in this game thought better of it. He instead opted for this calm development, which had the advantage of taking no unnecessary risks.
249 Its detriment is that it yielded him only a minuscule overall plus.<br><br>
250
251 Caution! There is sometimes no reasonable alternative to initiating a fight when you’ve fallen behind, and less aggressive play is unlikely to reverse the game’s
252 losing trend! But other than in such exceptional circumstances, avoiding gratuitous and/or potentially dangerous fights is usually sound policy.<br><br>
253 How to Distinguish between vital fights and those that aren’t is one of the major subjects of this book, so, hopefully, that important distinction will be much
254 clearer after you’ve read it all.<br><br>
255
256
257 </td>
258 </tr>
259 </table>
260 <br><br>
261
262 <strong>Fighting Guidelines:</strong>
263
264 In a fencing bout, every legal touch has the same value. So when the opponent thrusts, a fencer’s first response must be to parry! Only then does it become feasible to initiate an aggressive counter action.
265 In a boxing match, every legal blow has the same point value to the judges, but more effective blows can not only steal the initiative from the opponent but can also serve to wear him down so that both his
266 attack and defense become less effective. Equally important, they can also serve to instantly end the bout via a knockout!<br><br>
267 And it’s much the same in Go. A move by the opponent which intends to seize Sente by making a threat that you can’t afford to ignore may be defended against as expected, but it also may be ignored in favor of
268 a threat of one’s own which is in fact more serious. In each case, deciding what’s appropriate strategically and then achieving their desires requires accurate positional appraisal followed by precise execution
269 by both sides, so in the final analysis a player’s arsenal of tactical skills is the foundation upon which his strategy is both built and realized.<br><br>
270 <I>The crucial factor in the conduct of any fight is the realization that each separate group of both White and Black stones must somehow form at least two separate and distinct eyes by the end of the game</I>,
271 to both remain alive and garner the territory that will count toward a win. So the more separate groups you can force your opponent to establish, the more “free” moves you gain with which to pursue your own objectives.
272 This is generally true because most moves made by the opponent to secure his own eyes won’t also expand his space or attack your positions!<br><br>
273 Because it’s easy for a beginner or intermediate in a handicap game to be intimidated by White’s superior skill, it’s also important to remember that<br><br>
274
275
276 <center>
277 <br><table class="txtbox">
278
279 <tr>
280 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
281 <td align="middle" valign="top">
282 <br>
283 <font class="txtboxsmall">
284 The White Stones Have No Special Powers,<br>
285 And Share The Same Need<br>
286 For Eyeshape, Space, and Connectivity<br>
287 As Black’s<br><br>
288
289 </font>
290
291 </td>
292 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
293 </tr>
294 </table>
295 </center>
296 <br><br>
297 So Black must carefully appraise and then seek to exploit any weaknesses in White’s positions, rather than reflexively playing purely defensively as though the White stones were somehow invulnerable!<br><br>
298 The following principles provide excellent guidance in most situations. Why they’re generally valid will become clearer when we discuss strong and weak stones in Chapter 3.
299 <br><br>
300
301
302
303 <center>
304 <br><table class="txtbox">
305 <tr>
306 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
307 <td align="middle" valign="top">
308 <br>
309 <font class="txtboxbig">
310 To Attack, Play Away.
311 <br>
312
313 </font>
314 <br>
315 <font class="txtboxsmall">
316 (Keep a discreet distance, inhibiting the opponent’s <br>
317 ability to expand and/or form eyes.)<br><br>
318 </font>
319
320 </td>
321 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
322
323 </tr>
324 </table>
325 </center>
326 <br><br>
327
328 <strong>The Nature Of Attack</strong><br><br>
329 An attack uses threats against weak stones to create gains, either locally or elsewhere, which typically take the form of territory (profit), the creation of power/influence, or an attack on another group.<br><br>
330 Attacking plays will usually elicit a response, but won’t necessarily result in an immediate fight.<br><br>
331
332 Attacking scenarios are of almost transcendent importance in playing Go and among the most satisfying to implement, so it will be worth our while to briefly examine their structure and implications here, deferring fuller discussion for later.<br><br>
333 In a 2008 article in the AGA e-journal, well known American Go teacher Jim Kerwin, 1P, said the following:<br><br>
334 “The key to attacking is to start by choosing where and what you want to gain. You will find it difficult at first to see a possible gain and how to use attack to get it. The good news is that if you can’t see how to use the weak group to get what you
335 want, you can afford to wait. The worst case is that the opponent will eventually spend a move to reinforce the group allowing you to play a profit move, so you’re guaranteed something.”<br><br>
336
337 This is splendid advice, as might be expected from a Go professional, but I believe that it’s still amenable to modest refinement for the beginners/intermediates who are endeavoring to learn from this book.<br><br>
338 The relevant issue is the player’s meta-strategy for playing Go in any particular game. When engaged in competition in which winning and rating are the motivation, Kerwin’s conservative strategy of staying within
339 the confines of the player’s current knowledge/skill base except in desperate circumstances is clearly appropriate. But in playing “casual” Go, especially when expanding your experience base is the dominant motivation, a far more adventurous and aggressive
340 strategy will usually be more appropriate!<br><br>
341 Given that such “casual” games will almost necessarily constitute by far the majority of your early playing experience, rather than holding back unless you’re reasonably certain of success as Kerwin suggests, in those games your preferred strategy should be
342 to assess as best you can, and then, if in your best judgment it seems at all feasible, attack! Then, especially if you later review what happened (or use a service like The Go Teaching Ladder to have a much stronger player point out your errors), by learning
343 from your mistakes you can maximize your rate of progress.<br><br>
344
345
346 <center>
347 <br><table class="txtbox">
348 <tr>
349 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
350 <td align="middle" valign="top">
351 <br>
352 <font class="txtboxbig">
353 To Defend, Play Close
354 <br>
355
356 </font>
357 <br>
358 <font class="txtboxsmall">
359 (Make contact as a method for creating eyeshape <br>
360 and/or sealing off eyespace.)<br><br>
361 </font>
362
363 </td>
364 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
365
366 </tr>
367 </table>
368 </center>
369 <br><br>
370
371 Contact plays will almost invariably result in an immediate fight.<br><br>
372 In any event<br><br>
373
374 <center>
375
376 <br><table class="txtbox">
377 <tr>
378 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
379 <td align="middle" valign="top">
380
381 <br>
382 <font class="txtboxsmall">
383 Before You Play Defensively,<br>
384 Always Seek An Offensive Move<br>
385
386 That Also Satisfies Your Objectives<br><br>
387
388 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
389
390 </font>
391
392 </td>
393 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
394 </tr>
395 </table>
396 </center>
397
398 <br><br>
399
400 <center>
401 <br><table class="txtbox">
402 <tr>
403 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
404 <td align="middle" valign="top">
405
406
407 <br>
408 <font class="txtboxsmall">
409
410 FIGHTING CONTINUES UNTIL BOTH SIDES<br>
411 ARE (at least temporarily) STABLE<br><br>
412 </font>
413
414 </td>
415 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
416 </tr>
417 </table>
418 </center>
419
420 <br><br>
421
422 This may mean that both sides are safe, that one side’s stones are either unequivocally dead or temporarily abandoned, or that both are still incompletely settled.
423 In the latter cases, the fight will often resume later, when the appearance of other stones nearby makes it profitable for one side or the other.<br><br>
424 To see how these principles work in practice, let’s examine a situation that frequently arises in both even and handicap games.<br><br>
425
426 <table>
427 <tr>
428 <td align="left" valign="top">
429 <img src="C1D5.jpg" border="1">
430
431
432 </td>
433
434 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
435 <td valign="top" align="left">
436
437 <strong>Diagram 5</strong> The “Knight’s Move” approach of W1 (or the symmetrical point on the upper side) is the most common way for White to begin operations against the Black 4-4 point stone.<br><br>
438 Because it’s an attack, it doesn’t make contact with the object of that attack, but instead stays a discreet distance away!<br><br>
439 When Black is in a position to respond aggressively, the one point squeeze play of B2 is the strongest counterattack, also playing at a discreet distance from its target, and inhibiting W1's ability to expand down the side to make a base there.<br><br>
440
441 Feasible but milder squeeze plays instead of B2 which may be globally preferable in some situations are “a” thru “d”, while “e” is sometimes chosen when Black feels the top and/or center are more important than the left side.<br><br>
442 After B2, White has the choice of defending W1 immediately or playing elsewhere. (If he tenukis he will suffer a fairly serious local detriment if Black is first to play locally again, but even then W1 can’t be killed.)<br><br>
443 How each of White’s feasible responses to B2 can play out is shown next.<br>
444 <br><br>
445
446 </td>
447 </tr>
448 </table>
449
450 <br><br>
451
452 <table>
453 <tr>
454 <td align="left" valign="top">
455 <img src="C1D6.jpg" border="1">
456
457 </td>
458
459 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
460 <td valign="top" align="left">
461
462
463 <strong>Diagram 6</strong> In response to the pincer attack of B2, one common (but rather passive) continuation is for W3 to dive into the corner.<br><br>
464 After the Joseki sequence thru W11 (B“a” in place of B10 is sometimes preferable), White is not only alive with profit in the corner, but is also unconfined.<br><br>
465 In return, W1 is at least temporarily abandoned and Black has thickness. This dynamic “equality” is a fair allocation of assets for both sides for the moment, but not a fully adequate characterization of the situation.<br><br>
466 The important aspect of this position unaddressed by that assessment is that White’s profit of about 10 points in the corner is almost (but not quite) already assured, but Black’s thickness on the outside must still be sooner
467 or later converted into an approximately equivalent gain either locally or elsewhere for this trade to be ultimately fair.<br><br>
468
469 </td>
470 </tr>
471
472 </table>
473 <br><br>
474
475
476 <table>
477 <tr>
478 <td align="left" valign="top">
479 <img src="C1D7.jpg" border="1">
480
481 </td>
482
483 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
484 <td valign="top" align="left">
485 <br><br>
486 <strong>Diagram 7</strong> “Abandoning” W1 as in Dia 6 isn’t always globally desirable, and in that case the one point center skip of W3 here is often a good alternative to entering the corner.<br><br>
487 After that, the calmest sequence is as shown, with White getting strong center influence in return for Black’s sketching out corner territory. (The contact play of B6 helps defend the corner territory in Sente by threatening to
488 connect underneath to B2 by continuing at 7, thereby inducing W7 to prevent that.)<br><br>
489 After this, with the 3-3 point (“a”) in the corner and “b”, “c”, and “d” all still available for White if and when circumstances make them appropriate, and with the skirt at “e” also still open, the big corner territory is as yet far from securely Black’s!<br><br>
490
491 </td>
492 </tr>
493 </table>
494 <br><br>
495
496 <table>
497 <tr>
498 <td align="left" valign="top">
499 <img src="C1D8.jpg" border="1">
500
501
502 </td>
503
504 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
505 <td valign="top" align="left">
506 <br><br><br><br><br>
507 <strong>Diagram 8</strong> It’s also feasible for White to switch W5 in Dia 7 to the “shoulder hit” on B2 shown here, with this common result.<br><br>
508 B14 prevents a White enclosure, and at least tentatively assures life for the B2-14 group.<br><br>
509
510 Then, depending on what’s going on elsewhere, White may play “a” immediately to assure his connectivity (the best way to do that), or tenuki and hope that he’ll be able to get back to consolidate his position here before Black can play to cut him apart.<br><br>
511 Instead of the aggressive squeeze play of B2 in Dia 5 - 8, Black might feel it preferable to play defensively, so let’s examine next just how differently that will play out.<br><br>
512
513 </td>
514 </tr>
515 </table>
516 <br><br>
517
518 <table>
519
520 <tr>
521 <td align="left" valign="top">
522 <img src="C1D9.jpg" border="1">
523
524 </td>
525
526 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
527 <td valign="top" align="left">
528 <br>
529 <strong>Diagram 9</strong> Especially when Black already has the marked stone or one near it in place, instead of squeezing, the attachment of B2 is feasible.<br><br>
530
531 As earlier noted, this is not an attack! A contact play like this B2 is actually a defensive move which is intended to enable Black to both “make shape” and take some corner/side territory.<br><br>
532 Its main detriment is that it also induces White to make shape and territory as shown, thus simplifying the position while also reducing both side’s later options.<br><br>
533 (There are a number of other feasible Joseki variants beyond these few which give somewhat different results, but those details are outside our present interest and so will not be discussed here.)<br><br>
534
535 </td>
536 </tr>
537 </table>
538 <br><br>
539
540 <table>
541 <tr>
542 <td align="left" valign="top">
543 <img src="C1D10.jpg" border="1">
544
545 </td>
546
547 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
548 <td valign="top" align="left">
549
550 <strong>Diagram 10</strong> Relevant to this discussion is the “bang against” attachment of B2 here, which, as earlier noted and despite its appearance, is primarily an attack and not a defensive move!<br><br>
551
552 Since this is something that seems inconsistent and therefore may be confusing, understanding its rationale is important.<br><br>
553 The attachment of B2 is most appropriate when the triangled Black stone (or one at “a”) is already in place on the upper side, and is even more effective when (as here) the marked left side star-point stone is also present (as is true in high handicap games).<br><br>
554 The aim of B2 is to make infeasible an immediate White switch to the 3-3 point in the corner at “b”, as in Dia 8. It does this because if W3 at “b”to “steal” the corner territory, B4 at 3 would give Black excellent eyeshape while severely damaging W1. So most often
555 W3 is considered necessary.<br><br>
556
557 </td>
558 </tr>
559 </table>
560 <br>
561
562 Then B4 works perfectly, in conjunction with the triangled upper side star point stone, toward building a large Black territory in the upper left corner and adjacent upper side. (Although as noted in Dia 7, that territory is still far from completely secure, especially
563 with W“b” still available.)<br><br>
564 After B4 White needs eyespace for his 2 stones, but the marked Black left side star point stone stands in the way of an ideal extension, leaving only the very short one point skip to W5 as really feasible.<br><br>
565 Next, B6 prevents a White slide to either “c” or “d” to expand his eyespace, after which W7 is necessary to create the beginnings of some eyespace and shape while fleeing toward the center. B8 is then often best, building Black’s strength and looking toward the lower side.<br><br>
566 What’s really important here is to recognize the fundamental difference between the almost entirely defensive attachment of B2 in Dia 9 and that of Dia 10, which is primarily (but not entirely) offensive.<br><br>
567 Once that critical difference is clearly understood, it should then be far easier for you to make the proper decisions and appropriate followup in similar situations that arise in your own games.<br><br>
568
569 <br><br>
570
571
572 Whatever the situation<br><br>
573
574 <center>
575 <br><table class="txtbox">
576 <tr>
577 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
578 <td align="middle" valign="top">
579
580 <br>
581
582 <font class="txtboxsmall">
583 Don’t Act On<br>
584 The First Plausible Move<br>
585 That Solves Your Major Problem.<br><br>
586
587 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
588
589 </font>
590
591 </td>
592
593 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
594 </tr>
595 </table>
596 </center>
597 <br><br>
598
599 <center>
600 <br><table class="txtbox">
601 <tr>
602 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
603
604 <td align="middle" valign="top">
605
606 <br>
607 <font class="txtboxsmall">
608 Always Look Further For A Better Move,<br>
609 Especially One Which Also Accomplishes<br>
610 Other Desirable Goals.<br><br>
611
612 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
613
614
615 </font>
616
617 </td>
618 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
619 </tr>
620 </table>
621 </center>
622 <br><br>
623
624 <table>
625 <tr>
626
627 <td align="left" valign="top">
628 <img src="C1D11.jpg" border="1">
629
630 </td>
631
632 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
633 <td valign="top" align="left">
634 <br><br><br><br>
635 <strong>Diagram 11</strong> This is a fairly common type of position, in which the central area to the left of the Black stones is still quite open.<br><br>
636
637 In most cases, when the marked White stone probes his one point skip Black will want to maintain his connection, and the first step in finding the best way to do this is to identify the feasible alternatives.<br><br>
638 Please decide on your own candidates before looking at the following diagrams.<br><br>
639
640 </td>
641 </tr>
642 </table>
643
644 <br><br>
645 <table>
646
647 <tr>
648 <td align="left" valign="top">
649 <img src="C1D12.jpg" border="1">
650
651 </td>
652
653 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
654 <td valign="top" align="left">
655 <br><br><br><br><br><br>
656 <strong>Diagram 12</strong> Black’s available connection options are marked from “a” to “d”. But which is best?<br><br>
657
658 There is no one universally correct answer because the preferred option will depend upon other stones already in place (not shown here) or deemed likely to appear in subsequent play.<br><br>
659
660 </td>
661 </tr>
662 </table>
663 <br><br>
664
665 <table>
666 <tr>
667
668 <td align="left" valign="top">
669 <img src="C1D13.jpg" border="1">
670
671 </td>
672
673 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
674 <td valign="top" align="left">
675 <br><br><br>
676 <strong>Diagram 13</strong> The simplistic choice is the hard connection of B1.<br><br>
677
678 Although this is the only absolutely secure, unbreakable connection, it’s also the one that creates no shape at all while offering the fewest followup alternatives.<br><br>
679 Despite these detriments there are situations in which it’s the most desirable option, so it can’t simply be dismissed out of hand. But absent special circumstances that make the other options
680 infeasible and/or Black’s ultra-solid thickness here particularly useful, this is usually the worst choice. So an alert Black will look further.<br><br>
681
682 </td>
683 </tr>
684 </table>
685 <br><br>
686
687 <table>
688
689 <tr>
690 <td align="left" valign="top">
691 <img src="C1D14.jpg" border="1">
692
693 </td>
694
695 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
696 <td valign="top" align="left">
697 <br><br>
698 <strong>Diagram 14</strong> A slightly better alternative, which in certain circumstances may be preferable to the others, is the extension of B1 here.<br><br>
699
700 This maintains the connection because if W“a’, B“b”, and if then W“c” cuts, the atari of B“d”answers. And if W“e” then extends, B“f” is a Geta that traps the two White cutting stones.<br><br>
701 But instead of pushing at “a”, which obviously doesn’t work, if the position to the left is suitable an alert White might continue with something like W“d”, to induce B“c”, and then follow with
702 something like W”f”, to leave the entire Black group “floating” without either eyes or shape.br><br>
703 And that possibility is one of the reasons that this B1 as the way to maintain Black’s connection is not often best.<br><br>
704 </td>
705 </tr>
706 </table>
707
708 <br><br>
709 <table>
710
711 <tr>
712 <td align="left" valign="top">
713 <img src="C1D15.jpg" border="1">
714
715 </td>
716
717 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
718 <td valign="top" align="left">
719 <br><br><br><br>
720 <strong>Diagram 15</strong> A bit more stylish and versatile is B1 here.<br><br>
721
722 After this if W “a” pushes into the gap in the Black formation, depending on surrounding circumstances B“b”, “c” or “d” are all sufficient to maintain Black’s connection with good shape.<br><br>
723 But even this usually isn’t best because this B1 doesn’t reach far enough out from his wall.<br><br>
724
725 </td>
726 </tr>
727 </table>
728 <br><br>
729
730 <table>
731
732 <tr>
733 <td align="left" valign="top">
734 <img src="C1D16.jpg" border="1">
735
736 </td>
737
738 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
739 <td valign="top" align="left">
740
741 <strong>Diagram 16</strong> So after further reflection, the one point skip of B1 here is revealed as the move that best accomplishes all of Black’s objectives!<br><br>
742
743 After this, if White makes the shape-killing placement at “a”, B “b” connects efficiently because W“a” is now almost trapped.<br><br>
744 After that, playing immediately (as at “c”) to rescue W“a” would only help Black. Not only would he then have a larger White group to attack, but (assuming the relatively open center we noted at the outset)
745 that newly formed White group will probably not seriously threaten Black because those White stones will almost certainly be weaker than the Blacks they are supposedly attacking.<br><br>
746 If after B1, instead of W“a” White pushes at “b”, with B“a” the position reverts to Dia 15 after W“a”, B“d’ there.<br><br>
747 After W“a”, B“b”, if White doesn’t extend from “a”, then if and when appropriate, B“c”(or even a more distant Geta) is a further stylish play that assures that W“a”is trapped, almost certainly yielding Black one eye.<br><br>
748
749 </td>
750 </tr>
751
752 </table>
753 <br>
754
755 <strong>Enclosure</strong><br><br>
756
757 In the big fights that decide the majority of well played games it’s important that each side retain as many options as possible, and key among those options is finding support for both attack and defense from nearby friendly stones.<br><br>
758 Groups which are enclosed not only can’t simply run away from an attack, but are also unable to connect with other friendly stones which might offer help, either to win the fight outright or to at least survive it.<br><br>
759 It’s also true that if one side is enclosed it’s almost necessarily disconnected from other friendly groups, and in many (but not all) cases that also means that the opponent is connected.<br><br>
760
761 The result is that when looking at the final position of games which are close enough to count, it will much more often than not be true that the side which has the fewest number of groups (= is best connected!) is the winner!<br><br>
762 Perhaps most important of all is the fact that<br><br>
763
764 <center>
765 <br><table class="txtbox">
766 <tr>
767 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
768 <td align="middle" valign="top">
769
770 <br>
771
772 <font class="txtboxbig">
773 Only Enclosed Groups<br>
774 Can Be Killed<br><br>
775 </font>
776
777 </td>
778 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
779 </tr>
780 </table>
781
782 </center>
783 <br><br>
784 Therefore<br>
785 <center>
786 <br><table class="txtbox">
787 <tr>
788 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
789 <td align="middle" valign="top">
790
791
792 <br>
793 </font>
794 <font class="txtboxsmall">
795 To The Extent Feasible<br>
796 <br>
797 <font class="txtboxbig">
798 Avoid Becoming Enclosed<br><br>
799 </font>
800
801
802 </td>
803 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
804 </tr>
805 </table>
806 </center>
807 <br><br>
808 Becoming enclosed almost necessarily imposes a burden that is not infrequently sufficient to swing the balance of the entire game in the opponent’s favor.
809 The converse perspective is equally valid, so under most circumstances enclosing the opponent is an excellent strategy. For that reason, understanding the
810 principles governing enclosure constitute a major factor in becoming a strong player.<br><br>
811
812
813 <center>
814 <br><table class="txtbox">
815
816 <tr>
817 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
818 <td align="middle" valign="top">
819
820 <br>
821 </font>
822
823 <font class="txtboxsmall">
824 To Counter An Enclosure Threat<br>
825 <br>
826
827 <font class="txtboxbig">
828 "If In Doubt, Run Out"<br><br>
829 </font>
830
831 </td>
832 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
833 </tr>
834 </table>
835 </center>
836
837 <br><br>
838
839 The rationale is simple. Enclosed stones:<br>
840 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Have no interface with or influence on subsequent play elsewhere on the board.<br>
841 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Must be able to make 2 eyes, or die.<br><br>
842 Caution! As the board fills up throughout the game, every group will ultimately become enclosed! So the guidelines we discuss here apply primarily during the Fuseki and early middle game. <br><br>
843 It’s also true that all such “rules” of behavior represent simplifications of often quite complex situations, but they are nevertheless quite valuable because in surprisingly many cases they also provide the clues that can allow even beginning players to find
844 excellent moves they might otherwise miss.<br><br>
845
846
847 <table>
848 <tr>
849 <td align="left" valign="top">
850 <img src="C1D17.jpg" border="1">
851
852 </td>
853
854 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
855 <td align="left" valign="top">
856 <img src="C1D18.jpg" border="1">
857
858
859 </td>
860
861
862 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
863 <td valign="top" align="left">
864
865 <b>Dia 17</b> Especially in high handicap games, this is a fairly common position, in which White has made a double kakari against a star point stone.
866 <br><br>
867 In the absence of special circumstances Black should without fail play to prevent White’s enclosure! For this purpose, B1 as shown is usually best, but sometimes the attachment at either “a” or “b” is preferable.
868 <br><br>
869 <b>Dia 18</b> If Black doesn’t respond to the double attack and allows White to play the marked enclosing move on his key point before answering, he can still (just barely) achieve life in gote as shown, but with
870 even a slight inaccuracy he will almost surely die! And even if he does live, White’s advantage is considerable. So, on balance, Black would be well advised not to allow himself to be forced into this kind of situation!<br><br>
871
872
873 </td>
874 </tr>
875 </table>
876 The principle of searching beyond the obvious for the best move stated earlier generally applies, but it’s especially relevant in the enclosure context, where the sense of relief that almost necessarily accompanies a successful
877 escape may readily blind you to the fact that a superior global result might have been obtained if only you’d looked further for a better move.<br><br>
878 Here’s a fairly “typical” situation which beautifully illustrates this scenario.<br><br>
879
880
881 <table>
882 <tr>
883 <td align="left" valign="top">
884
885 <img src="C1D19.jpg" border="1">
886
887 </td>
888
889 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
890 <td valign="top" align="left">
891 <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
892 <b>Dia 19</b> In this game between two 5 D’s, the 12 marked White stones are almost enclosed, with no sure eyes yet! (Although one can be easily made.) So if they don’t get out immediately they will almost certainly be in big trouble,
893 possibly even resulting in a loss sufficient to cost White the game!<br><br> So what’s the best way for White to break out?<br><br>
894
895
896 <br><br>
897
898 </td>
899 </tr>
900 </table>
901 <br><br>
902 <table>
903 <tr>
904 <td align="left" valign="top">
905
906 <img src="C1D20.jpg" border="1">
907
908 </td>
909
910 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
911 <td valign="top" align="left">
912 <br><br><br><br><br><br>
913 <strong>Diagram 20</strong> Beginning with the atari of W1 and then continuing with the forcing plays thru W9 succeeds in allowing White to escape, and in some situations would be the best way to play, but not here!<br><br>
914 The problem with it is that Black becomes too strong on both sides.<br><br>
915
916 So finding a better way to get out is highly desirable.<br><br>
917
918 </td>
919 </tr>
920 </table>
921 <br><br>
922
923 <table>
924 <tr>
925
926 <td align="left" valign="top">
927 <img src="C1D21.jpg" border="1">
928
929 </td>
930
931 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
932 <td valign="top" align="left">
933 <br><br><br><br><br><br>
934 <strong>Diagram 21</strong> Beginning with the atari on the other side is clearly better, because now Black has only been strengthened on the left, but it’s still inferior!<br><br>
935
936 Although many players might be satisfied with this, the 5D who played White in this game looked further, and found something better!<br><br>
937 Do you see it? Try to find it for yourself before looking at the next diagram.<br><br>
938
939 </td>
940 </tr>
941 </table>
942 <br><br>
943
944 <table>
945
946 <tr>
947 <td align="left" valign="top">
948 <img src="C1D22.jpg" border="1">
949
950 </td>
951
952 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
953 <td valign="top" align="left">
954 <br><br><br><br>
955 <strong>Diagram 22</strong> With the stylish “dog’s neck” extension of W1 here, White not only gets out as smoothly as before, but now is one step ahead in his race into the open center
956 - a major difference in enabling a later connection to friendly stones or forming eyes. (W1 works because “a” and “b” are miai for it to remain connected to his group below!)<br><br>
957 Perhaps equally important, playing this way doesn’t induce Black to strengthen himself on either side!<br><br>
958
959 White escapes in each case, but the seemingly small difference between Dia 22 and either Dia 20 or Dia 21 can easily change the balance between victory and defeat in a close game!<br><br>
960
961 </td>
962 </tr>
963 </table>
964 <br><br>
965
966 <strong>Fighting Against Unenclosed Groups</strong><br><br>
967
968 <center>
969 <br><table class="txtbox">
970 <tr>
971 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
972 <td align="middle" valign="top">
973
974 <br>
975 </font>
976
977 <font class="txtboxsmall">
978 Because<br>
979
980 Only Enclosed Groups<br>
981 Can Be killed,<br>
982 <br>
983 <font class="txtboxbig">
984 There’s Little Value<br>
985 In Playing “Inside” Moves<BR>
986 Against An Unenclosed Group<br><br>
987
988 </font>
989
990 </td>
991 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
992 </tr>
993 </table>
994 </center>
995 <br><br>
996
997 <center>
998 <br><table class="txtbox">
999
1000 <tr>
1001 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
1002 <td align="middle" valign="top">
1003
1004
1005 <br>
1006 <font class="txtboxsmall">
1007 It’s Usually Better<br>
1008 To Play Outside Moves,<br>
1009 And Force Your Opponent<br>
1010
1011 To Make Eyes And “Live Small”<br><br>
1012 </font>
1013
1014 </td>
1015 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
1016 </tr>
1017 </table>
1018 </center>
1019 <br><br>
1020
1021 Caution!<br><br>
1022 This principle is not absolute! There are circumstances in which the global position makes it more advisable to strike first
1023 at the opponent’s key shape point(s) to prevent an easy two eyes, and then profitably harass the fleeing group as it struggles
1024 to either connect or secure its eyes in the center.<br><br>
1025 The following shows a situation in which attacking an unenclosed group from the inside was counterproductive.<br><br>
1026
1027 <br><br>
1028
1029 <table>
1030 <tr>
1031 <td align="left" valign="top">
1032
1033 <img src="C1D23.jpg" border="1">
1034
1035 </td>
1036
1037 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
1038 <td valign="top" align="left">
1039 <br><br>
1040 <strong>Diagram 23</strong> This is the position a few moves after what we will discuss later as Dia 7, Chapter 2, with Black’s attention focused on the White group in the lower right center.<br><br>
1041 This White group is not yet enclosed, so it’s in no immediate danger of dying no matter what happens next. But Black evidently reasoned that if he could prevent its ability to easily make two eyes
1042 that would both force it to run and make it vulnerable to later profitable harassment. So....<br><br>
1043
1044 </td>
1045 </tr>
1046 </table>
1047 <br><br>
1048
1049 <table>
1050 <tr>
1051 <td align="left" valign="top">
1052 <img src="C1D24.jpg" border="1">
1053
1054
1055 </td>
1056
1057 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
1058 <td valign="top" align="left">
1059 <br><br><br><br>
1060 <strong>Diagram 24</strong> B1 invaded to occupy the key shape point of the White formation, hoping to either cut it apart or prevent its making eyes.<br><br>
1061 Allowing B2 next would enable B1 to connect out to the Black corner stones, shattering the White group’s viability and forcing it to run into the center eyeless. W2 was the best way to prevent that.
1062 Then B3 aimed at either connecting B1 to the left or allowing it to escape.<br><br>
1063
1064 </td>
1065 </tr>
1066 </table>
1067 <br><br>
1068 But White neatly avoided that by extending with the simple but effective W4, assuring the capture of B1 and creating one eye, with good prospects for another and/or easy escape into the center.<br><br>
1069 So the result of this premature invasion by B1 was not only a tactical failure but also an important strategic mistake, because it made the White group almost invulnerable!<br><br>
1070
1071
1072 <br><br>
1073
1074 <table>
1075 <tr>
1076 <td align="left" valign="top">
1077 <img src="C1D25.jpg" border="1">
1078
1079 </td>
1080
1081 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
1082 <td valign="top" align="left">
1083
1084 <br><br><br><br><br>
1085 <strong>Diagram 25</strong> Instead of the invasion of B1 in Dia 24, Black should simply have played on the outside like this, expanding and strengthening his own formation and aiming to seal White in,
1086 while biding his time to when an eye-killing sacrifice attack at the point of “a” might have a reasonable chance of success.<br><br>
1087
1088 </td>
1089 </tr>
1090 </table>
1091 <br><br>
1092
1093 <strong>Fighting Against Large Groups</strong><br><br>
1094 <center>
1095 <br><table class="txtbox">
1096 <tr>
1097 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
1098 <td align="middle" valign="top">
1099
1100
1101 <br>
1102 <font class="txtboxbig">
1103
1104 DIRECT THREATS TO KILL LARGE GROUPS<br><br>
1105 ARE RARELY SUCCESSFUL<br><br>
1106 </font>
1107
1108 </td>
1109 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
1110 </tr>
1111 </table>
1112 </center>
1113
1114 <br><br>
1115
1116
1117 Because of the need for efficiency, the enclosure of a large group will often be more or less incomplete. So as the battle progresses and the group continues to grow, those imperfections will typically provide a number of opportunities
1118 either to break out directly or to make eyes in place by capturing some of the surrounding attackers.<br><br>
1119
1120 Consequently<br><br>
1121
1122 <center>
1123 <br><table class="txtbox">
1124 <tr>
1125
1126 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
1127 <td align="middle" valign="top">
1128
1129
1130 <br>
1131 <font class="txtboxsmall">
1132 THE BEST PLAN USUALLY IS TO<br><br>
1133 USE SUCH THREATS INDIRECTLY,<br><br>
1134 AS THE MEANS OF ACHIEVING<br><br>
1135 OTHER IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES<br><br>
1136
1137 </font>
1138
1139 </td>
1140 <td width="30">&nbsp;</td>
1141 </tr>
1142 </table>
1143 </center>
1144 <br><br>
1145
1146
1147 Here’s a “typical” example.<br><br>
1148
1149 <table>
1150 <tr>
1151 <td align="left" valign="top">
1152 <img src="C1D26.jpg" border="1">
1153
1154 </td>
1155
1156 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
1157 <td valign="top" align="left">
1158 <br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
1159
1160 <strong>Diagram 26</strong> In this game between a 7D and 6D, Black has secured the upper right corner and a small life on the lower right side. In return, White has secured the lower right corner,
1161 as well as eyespace on the upper right edge for his large incompletely settled but not yet enclosed group there.<br><br>
1162 But it’s Black’s turn, and although there’s little chance that he can kill this White group, if possible he’d like to keep the pressure on and gain profit elsewhere by attacking it. But how to do that?<br><br>
1163
1164 </td>
1165 </tr>
1166 </table>
1167 <br><br>
1168
1169 <table>
1170 <tr>
1171 <td align="left" valign="top">
1172 <img src="C1D27.jpg" border="1">
1173
1174 </td>
1175
1176 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
1177 <td align="left" valign="top">
1178 <img src="C1D28.jpg" border="1">
1179
1180
1181 </td>
1182
1183
1184 <td width="10">&nbsp;</td>
1185 <td valign="top" align="left">
1186 <br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
1187 <b><strong>Dia 27</strong></b> The Knight’s Move of B1 is the strongest way to proceed! Although White can then readily live on the edge if he acts immediately, allowing himself to become enclosed
1188 is bad strategy! So instead White tried to escape.<br><br>
1189
1190 <b><strong>Dia 28</strong></b> With this sequence, Black deliberately didn’t go all out to try to prevent White’s escape! Instead, he cleverly parlayed enclosure threats to build center strength (note the almost captured W6 and 8),
1191 resulting in a global advantage that ultimately enabled him to win the game.<br><br>
1192
1193 </td>
1194 </tr>
1195 </table>
1196
1197
1198 <br><br>
1199 <strong>Click Here To Go To</strong><a href="Ch1P.html"><font size=+1><font Color="#0033FF"><strong> Chapter 1 Problems </strong></font></a>
1200 <br><br>
1201 <strong>Click Here To Move On To</strong><a href="Ch2.html"><font size=+1><font Color="#0033FF"><strong> Chapter 2</strong></font></a>
1202
1203 <br><br>
1204 <strong>Click Here To Return To</strong><a href="Improve%20Fast%20Index.html"><font size=+1><font Color="#0033FF"><strong> Table Of Contents </strong></font></a>
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1212 <td width="100">&nbsp;</td>
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