Ko Fight - Ko Threat Strategy

Ko Threat Strategy

(Copied from http://senseis.xmp.net/?KoThreat.)

Before the fight

• Count ko threats.
• In anticipation of an upcoming ko fight, consider creating potential ko threats.
• Or, by the same token, find ways to eliminate ko threats on the part of your opponent

(especially local ko threats (see an example of removing a local threat), and double ko threats, meaning they work as ko threats for both sides).

During the fight

• If you have one or more ko threats "big enough" (threatening enough damage), so that your opponent should answer them, play the smallest one.
• If you will win the ko at your next opportunity, and a new ko begins or threatens to come about while the ko threat situation remains the same, you will be glad you only played your smallest effective threat.

• Otherwise, play the biggest one you have.

If you will lose the ko, you want to get the most you can in exchange for it.

• Try to avoid ko threats which lose points—i.e. loss-making threats.
• Try to make ko threats which are moves you would have liked to play anyway.
• Your ko threat needs to be a real threat; otherwise, it's called mukou.
• You should give absolute priority to local ko threats, which threaten to resolve the local situation in your favor regardless of the outcome of the ko, and which your opponent therefore has to answer at the risk of making the ko meaningless.

Note: There may be exceptions to the above advice. Whether to play a ko threat, and if so, which one, can be very subtle questions. See ko threat playing order for more.

General

• In general, when considering moves take into account the ko threat implications. Favor situations which give you more ko threats and your opponent fewer.