Page:Smith - The game of go.djvu/213

Rh number of "Me." In calculating the value of an end position, a player must carefully consider whether on its completion he will retain or lose the "Sente." It is an advantage to retain the "Sente," and it is generally good play to choose an end position where the "Sente" is retained, in preference to an end position where it is lost, even if the latter would gain a few more "Me."

The player holding the "Sente" would, therefore, complete in rotation those end positions which allowed him to retain it, commencing, of course, with those involving the greatest number of "Me." He would at last come to a point, however, where it would be more advantageous to play some end position which gained for him quite a number of points, although on its completion the "Sente" would be lost. His adversary, thereupon gaining the "Sente," would, in turn, play his series of end positions until it became advantageous for him to relinquish it. By this process the value of the contested end positions would become smaller and smaller, until at last there would remain only the filling of isolated, vacant intersections between the opposing lines, the occupation of which results in no advantage for either player. These moves are called "Dame," as we have already seen.

This is the general scheme of an end game, but, of course, in actual play there would be many departures therefrom. Sometimes an advantage can be gained by making an unsound though dangerous move, in the hope that the adversary may make some error in replying thereto. Then again, in playing against a player who lacks initiative, it is not so necessary to consider the certainty of retaining the "Sente" as when opposed by a more aggressive adversary.