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Capturing and saving stones · Lesson 17

Nets and failed connections: why liberties may not save you

A net blocks escape routes without giving atari at every step. A trapped group may still have two liberties, yet extending from either runs into the surrounding stones.

Black E5 blocks from outside. If White escapes to E4, Black D5 captures; if White escapes to D5, Black E4 captures. Read both lines to verify the trap in this diagram.

A shortage of liberties can make an apparent connection fail: after connecting, the whole group still has no liberties or is in atari and cannot be saved. Nets, ladders and failed connections require reading ahead. Having liberties now does not guarantee escape.

There are still escape points

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White D4 has liberties at D5 and E4. E5 is empty; after extending, White might use it to move outward.

Black sets a net

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Black E5 does not directly reduce White D4’s two liberties, but blocks the routes beyond its exits.

Captured after extending right

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If White first plays E4, both stones have only D5 as a liberty. Black D5 captures D4 and E4 together.

Captured after extending upward

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Another line: White at D5 joins two stones with only E4 as a liberty. Black at E4 captures both D4 and D5.

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