Seki: how can both sides live without two eyes?

Initially Black and White share only C2 and D2 as liberties. Black C2 lets White D2 capture Black; White C2 lets Black D2 capture White. There is no outside rescue here, so neither needs to fill shared liberties first.

Having fewer than two eyes does not mean a group is dead. Nor do two adjacent groups become seki just because neither player moves there. If one side can safely fill liberties, make eyes or create an effective ko, the conclusion may change.

Under this game’s area scoring, confirmed living stones count toward each side’s area; the two shared empty points belong to neither. If a complex shape is not verified, counting remains uncertain rather than guessing a winner.

Two shared liberties

Lower-left corner: Black C1 and D1 and the eight surrounding white stones share only C2 and D2 as liberties. The separate outer black group has eyes at D5 and F5 and serves as a stable boundary.

Black plays first and is captured

White at D2 captures Black C1, D1 and C2. Black lost by filling the shared liberty first.

White plays first and is captured

If White fills C2 first, Black at D2 captures the original eight white stones plus C2. If neither fills the shared liberties, both can live in seki.