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Start by playing a full game together · Lesson 06

What is atari? When do you capture?

Count the liberties, then see what the next move changes.

A group with one liberty left is in atari. If its opponent fills that last liberty, the whole group has no liberties and must be removed from the board. This is a capture.

White has one liberty left.

White has one liberty left.

What happens when Black plays at the green ring?

The whole group is captured.

First check which same-coloured stones are connected horizontally or vertically, and count their liberties together. Remove a group with no liberties from both the physical board and the app record.

Atari does not mean you must run.

Connecting, capturing back or sacrificing a few stones may also be possible. Look around before deciding. Chapter 3 explores these ideas.

Continue: points you cannot play

Original lessons by Yiban ·