Re: Gonnect + Go question

["Kevin O'Gorman" <kevin@kosmanor.com>]

This is best thought of as a single group (in Go, anyway).  It comes
in a number of forms.  From time to time, I use a series of such
forms to teach the idea that it's easiest to form territory in the
corners, hardest in the midboard.  For this purpose, I use a
sequence of "minimal safe groups", thus:

Corner (minimal groups require 6 stones:
   x - x - - -    - x - - - -    - x x - - -
   - x x - - -    x - x - - -    x - x - - -
   x x - - - -    x x x - - -    x x - - - -
   - - - - - -    - - - - - -    - - - - - -
   - - - - - -    - - - - - -    - - - - - -
   - - - - - -    - - - - - -    - - - - - -

Side (minimal groups require 8 stones):
   - - - - - -    - - - - - -    - - - - - -
   - x x - - -    x x - - - -    x x - - - -
   x - x - - -    - x - - - -    - x x - - -
   - x x - - -    x - x - - -    x - x - - -
   x x - - - -    x x x - - -    x x - - - -
   - - - - - -    - - - - - -    - - - - - -

Center (minimal groups require 10 stones):
   - - - - - -    - - - - - -    - - - - - -
   - - - x x -    - x x x - -    - - x x - -
   - - x - x -    - x - x - -    - x x - x -
   - x - x x -    - - x - x -    - x - x x -
   - x x x - -    - - x x x -    - - x x - -
   - - - - - -    - - - - - -    - - - - - -

The last of these is the minimal form of the one you show below.
The teaching point is that skillful use of the edges creates
strength for your group as surely as extra moves would do.
Thus you can attain safety more quickly near the edges, and
two edges are better than one.

I'm not aware of a special term for these formations other than
"unconditional life", or "having two eyes".  Awareness of these
9 possibilites is quite useful sometimes, both over-the-board
and in tesuji problems.

++ kevin


On Mon, 26 Aug 2002, Cameron Browne wrote:

> More Gonnect games wanted, please challenge camb.
> 
> Plus a quick question for Go players:
> 
>   x x x x - -
>   x x x x - -
>   x x x - x x
>   x x - x x x
>   - - x x x x
>   - - x x x x
> 
> Both X groups are safe but I don't think the eyes really belong to either 
> group. Is there a standard name for this relationship, or is this system 
> considered a single group?
> 
> Thanks,
> camb
> 
> 
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