Page:Smith - The game of go.djvu/60

34 means "chipped" or "incomplete." Plate 3, Diagram, is an illustration of this. A beginner might think that the white group was safe, but Black can kill the upper six white stones by playing at E 3, and then on the next move can kill the remainder by playing at G 2. Therefore, E 3 is not a perfect "Me," but is "Kageme." G 2 is a perfect "Me," but one is not enough to save the group. In this group if the stone at F 4 or D 2 were white, there would be two perfect "Me," and the group would be safe. In a close game beginners often find it difficult to distinguish between a perfect "Me" and "Kageme."

Groups of stones which contain vacant spaces, can be lost or saved according as two disconnected "Me" can or cannot be formed in those spaces, and the most interesting play in the game occurs along the sides and especially in the corners of the board in attempting to form or attempting to prevent the formation of these "Me." The attacking player often plays into the vacant space and sacrifices several stones with the ultimate object of reducing the space to one "Me"; and, on the other hand, the defending player by selecting a fortunate intersection may make it impossible for the stones to be killed. There is opportunity for marvelous ingenuity in the attack and defense of these positions. A simple example of defense is shown in Plate 3, Diagram, where, if it is White's turn, and he plays in the corner of the board at T 19, he can save his stones. If, on the other hand, he plays anywhere else, the two "Me" can never be formed. The beginner would do well to work out this situation for himself.

The series of diagrams commencing at Plate 3, Diagram, show the theoretical method of reducing vacant spaces