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Capturing and saving stones · Lesson 16

Ladders and ladder breakers: does chasing always work?

A ladder uses repeated atari to force a group to run in a staircase pattern. Without a friendly stone along the escape route, the group grows longer but is still captured in the end.

White moves first in the initial diagram. After White extends, Black gives atari from the side again. White briefly gains two liberties on each escape; Black fills one to force the next step. Only the opening steps are shown; read farther to decide the outcome.

White support near the escape route can break a ladder; such a stone is a ladder breaker. Do not declare a capture from only a few nearby points or chase a staircase mechanically. Edges, counter-atari and support can all change the result.

White is chased

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White D4 has only D5 as a liberty, and White is to play. This shows only the start of a ladder; distant stones affect its outcome.

White extends

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White at D5 connects two stones with liberties at E5 and D6 for now.

Black gives atari again

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Black gives atari at D6; White again has only E5.

Keep extending outward

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White continues at E5, temporarily gaining liberties at F5 and E6. Black can give atari again at F5. Read the full outward path before deciding whether the ladder works.

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