User:Selinger
Draft material for "Question"
The following was a draft example for the page Question, but it turned out to be too complicated to and not have a good answer.
Example: Template intrusion
Consider the following position, with Blue to move:
Note that Red is connected to the edge by edge template V2b, as highlighted. Blue would like to intrude into this template to gain strength either on the left or on the right.
Blue would like a 4th row ladder escape on the left. But the problem is that if Blue plays at d9 or c10, Red can reconnect by playing a minimaxing move at h7, which strenghtens Red's position.
Blue would also like a 4th row ladder escape on the right. But again, the problem is that if Blue moves at g10 or g9, Red can reconnect at g8, or by playing a minimaxing move, say at b10:
Neither of these outcomes is great for Blue. Instead, what Blue can do is ask the template a question:
Basically, the question is: "How do you want to reconnect?" And based on the answer, Blue will be able to gain some strength on the left or on the right, without giving Red quite as much territory as would otherwise have been the case.
For example, if Red reconnects at e8, then Blue can play e10:
Now Red's mustplay region consists of the 6 highlighted cells. If Red plays at d9, Blue gets a forcing move at b10, giving Blue a 4th row escape on the left, without Red getting g8. If Red plays at d10, g8, or g10, Blue gets a forcing move at d9, giving Blue a 4th row escape on the left without Red getting g8. If Red plays at g9, Blue defends the bridge at f9 and then plays as before. Finally, if Red plays at f10, Blue can respond at g8, getting a 4th row escape on the right. Although Red can still reconnect at b10, taking away Blue's ladder escape on the left, Red does not have the option of getting g8.
To be continued... and simplified?
To do
Add other illustrative examples, such as a template intrusion that forces the player to trade-off between a stronger connection and letting the opponent get a ladder escape, etc.
