Position and endgame · Lesson 31
Endgame and dame: what remains on an unfilled board?
Once the main groups’ areas are clearer, players can still push boundaries outward and reduce the opponent’s territory. These endgame plays may differ by only a few points each, yet their total can decide the result.
Dame are empty points between the two sides’ areas that neither owns. The groups in this diagram already have two eyes, so C1 and C5 no longer affect their life. Under this game’s area scoring, filling such a point adds a stone on the board. Do not assume that all dame are worthless and can be left unfilled.
Still watch for cuts, atari and ko in the endgame. A small-looking move that affects a group’s safety is more than an ordinary boundary play. Check safety before comparing endgame values and whether a move keeps sente.
Before passing, look for contested boundaries, dame worth filling and unsettled life and death. Even after consecutive passes, check the position. Empty eye points remaining on the board are normal.
Neutral boundary points
Original lessons by Yiban ·