: ( 2025)
White connects solidly.

With my Second Throw-in played, this solid connection did not affect the liberty count in the Main Semeai, at the cost of the loss of some points in the upper right corner.

Here, however, the shared liberty still creates approach-move liberties for Black's group at the upper edge. Consequently, the advantages over the atari have vanished into thin air.

Liberties (in the marked area):

• Black has ten direct liberties + one approach-move liberty = eleven effective liberties in total.
• White has three direct liberties .
• Both sides share one liberty .

In total, Black has a surplus of eight liberties in the marked area.

Consequences:

• Black must not connect his hasami-tsuke stone.
• However, he will be able to connect his single stone at the upper edge, shifting the approach-move liberty from the left to the right.

Liberties (contd.):

After Black's single connection at the upper edge, ...

• Black has ten direct liberties + one approach-move liberty = eleven effective liberties in total.
• White has three direct liberties .
• Both sides share one liberty .

In total, Black has a surplus of eight liberties in the marked area.

Consequences:

• Black must not connect his hasami-tsuke stone.
• Black will be able to play at e.g. in the right centre, as White must capture around the upper edge first.

Territory (in the Capture Variation):

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

• White did not capture Black's stone on the upper edge, so losing two points.
• Black destroyed two points of White's territory at the upper edge.

In total, White lost four points.

White + 6 => White + 2

Territory (in the Semeai Variation):

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

• White captured an additional Black stone at the upper edge, so gaining two points.
• Black destroyed two points of White's territory at the upper edge.

In total, gains and losses compensate for each other.

Black + 7 => Black + 7

2025