How could I have recognized this?

Uberdude · **#21**

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$c My (black's) turn $$ --------- $$|...O.OX..| $$|.2YO.OX..| $$|..YOOXX..| $$|.1YYO....| $$|3OOYO.O..| $$|.OXOOO.O.| $$|.OXXXXXX.| $$|.X.......| $$|.........| $$ ---------[/go]

Your move 3 didn't gain any liberties for your in danger group, nor remove any from the white stones you wanted to capture. If you just play as above then the white stones have only 2 liberties, and yours have 3, so you win (though in some situations it's not as simple as this with approach moves). White does sneak into the corner this way so, after reading this sequence, you could try looking for improvements that not only capture white's 4 stones but means you have more points and white fewer. But this is the basic approach of taking liberties to win a capturing race.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$c Continued, black captures white's 4 stones. $$ --------- $$|..4O.OX..| $$|.2YO.OX..| $$|.6YOOXX..| $$|.1YYO....| $$|3OOYO.O..| $$|7OXOOO.O.| $$|5OXXXXXX.| $$|.X.......| $$|.........| $$ ---------[/go]

jts · **#22**

By the way, i keep wondering, does h6 live? H6 h5 j8, after which...?

ez4u · **#23**

I think this is a nice little endgame problem.

For everyone:
Assume that White captured two Black stones on the marked square and there is a half point komi for White. What is the result with best play?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$c Black to play $$ - - - - - - - - - $$| . . . O M O X . . | $$| . . X O M O X . . | $$| . . X O O X X . . | $$| . . X X O . . . . | $$| . O O X O . O . . | $$| . O X O O O . O . | $$| . O X X X X X X . | $$| . X . . . . . . . | $$| . . . . . . . . . | $$ - - - - - - - - -[/go]

(Edit - Actually I see that Uberdude did make a nice explanation of what I wanted to say below. So really all I add are a couple of clarifying diagrams. It's what I get for only reading page 1 of the postings!)
@Xezlec
I think no one has said it precisely so let me make my attempt for your original question from a beginner's POV. Note that when Black plays :b1:

below the Black stones have four liberties (points marked with circles) while White has only three (marked X). You win as long as you keep reducing White's liberties as fast as White reduces yours.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$c $$ - - - - - - - - - $$| . . C O . O X . . | $$| . C X O . O X . . | $$| . C X O O X X . . | $$| C 1 X X O . . . . | $$| M O O X O . O . . | $$| M O X O O O . O . | $$| M O X X X X X X . | $$| . X . . . . . . . | $$| . . . . . . . . . | $$ - - - - - - - - -[/go]

below reduces your liberties from four to three. If you play :b3:

as shown, you reduce White's liberties from three to two and are still winning the race.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$c $$ - - - - - - - - - $$| . . C O . O X . . | $$| . 2 X O . O X . . | $$| . C X O O X X . . | $$| C 1 X X O . . . . | $$| 3 O O X O . O . . | $$| M O X O O O . O . | $$| M O X X X X X X . | $$| . X . . . . . . . | $$| . . . . . . . . . | $$ - - - - - - - - -[/go]

When you played :b3:

as shown below, White continued to have three liberties and meanwhile Black's liberties remained at three (although they changed location). As a result, you failed to reduce White's liberties as fast as White reduced yours - and lost sente. Yes! You performed one of those great mysteries that plague the beginner (and and the rest of us when our opponents are strong enough :blackeye:

) - you died in gote! Congratulations, your feet are thus firmly planted on the road to Go addiction. The fact that you came here to complain and seek guidance rather than just switching to another game on your phone may mean that you will never be able to escape Go and return to a normal life. Well done I say and indeed, welcome to Life in 19x19! :tmbup:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$c $$ - - - - - - - - - $$| . C 3 O . O X . . | $$| . 2 X O . O X . . | $$| . C X O O X X . . | $$| C 1 X X O . . . . | $$| M O O X O . O . . | $$| M O X O O O . O . | $$| M O X X X X X X . | $$| . X . . . . . . . | $$| . . . . . . . . . | $$ - - - - - - - - -[/go]

How could I have recognized this?

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