Nice to see this place found a new home. I was a member of godiscussions.com years ago and thought the site was gone for good. I just have a quick question for those in the know.

Sometimes the concept of seki confuses me a bit. Is this seki? Part of me says it is, but part says it isn't.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$
$$ . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . X X X X X X |
$$ . X O O O O X O |
$$ . X X O . O O O |
$$ . X O O X X X . |
$$ ----------------[/go]

Thanks for the help.

yes -- there are only two places either player can play. If white plays in either spot first, he will be in atari and be captured. White loses. If black plays in either spot first, he will be in atari and be captured and no longer able to cpture white at all. Black loses.

Since neither side can play first without losing, what you have then is a Mexican Standoff -- or seki.

I take it that you understand why White cannot play atari.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc Variation 1
$$ . . . . . . . . |
$$ . X X X X X X X |
$$ . X O O O O X O |
$$ . X X O 1 O O O |
$$ . X O O X X X 2 |
$$ ----------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc 2 eyes for White
$$ . . . . . . . . |
$$ . X X X X X X X |
$$ . X O O O O X O |
$$ . X X O . O O O |
$$ . X O O 3 4 . O |
$$ ----------------[/go]

If at 4, at 3.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc Variation 2
$$ . . . . . . . . |
$$ . X X X X X X X |
$$ . X O O O O X O |
$$ . X X O 2 O O O |
$$ . X O O X X X 1 |
$$ ----------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc 2 eyes for White
$$ . . . . . . . . |
$$ . X X X X X X X |
$$ . X O O O O X O |
$$ . X X O O O O O |
$$ . X O O . 3 4 . |
$$ ----------------[/go]

If at 4, at 3.

¿Es claro?

_________________
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

Thanks guys. That pretty much confirmed what I had thought.

Note that this is seki even if white has outside liberties.

E.g if we change the position to this one:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$
$$ . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . X . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . X X X X X . |
$$ . . . X O O O O X O |
$$ . X . X X O . O O O |
$$ . . . . O O X X X . |
$$ ----------------[/go]

Now white could capture black if he wanted. But he would be left with a dead shape (see: http://senseis.xmp.net/?Nakade)