Black must not lose a single additional liberty, as shown in the variation for ( 555). Thus, it is important that the guzumi is without negative effect on Black's liberties. Black has gained two potential approach-move liberties (/; 1095), making a real liberty (to balance the direct liberty he loses by White's answer at ).

With the same number of stones played (), Black has four effective liberties (/) - as many as without the guzumi (/). However, if Black's group gets an eye or a further approach-move liberty, then the potential approach-move liberty at becomes an effective liberty.