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WEEK 3 - life and death

MATERIALS YOU'LL NEED: 9x9 demo boards, class Go sets, jolly ranchers (or other wrapped candy)

LIFE AND DEATH - set up a simple pattern on the board with one eye (dead), then two eyes (alive). Explain about alive needing two eyes, or being able to make two eyes if challenged. I find the simplest pattern is the one where there are three intersections in a row surrounded by stones in the center of the board. This is the smallest alive group possible in the center of the board. Also make the smallest alive group possible on the side of the board, and in the corner. have all the patterns surrounded by the other color, so there are not outside liberties.

Point out it takes the least number of moves to live in the corner, then on the side, and the most moves to make life in the center. Explain that is why players usually start to build 'forts' or groups they hope to make alive, in the corners, then the sides, and finally, in the center.

EYE: one or more empty intersections surrounded by your own color stones on all four sides.
ALIVE - has at least two eyes. Means the group is invincible - cannot be captured.
DEAD - has only one or no eyes. Means the group can be attacked and captured.
REAL AND FALSE EYES- explain about how eyes need 3 of the corners to be occupied by your color stones in the middle of the board, all corners at the edge of the board to be a real eye. Demonstrate how a false eye can be put into atari.

Then come back to that first simplest shape in the center of the board, three in a row.

THREE IN A ROW - is this alive, dead, or unsettled? Have them figure out it depends on whose move it is whether the group becomes alive or dead. Explain what a vital point is.

PLAYING INSTRUCTIONS: tell students to play two games. In the first, try to make life. Play in opposite corners from each other, until you think you have a group that is alive. When you think your group is alive, raise your hand. I'll come and give you a candy when you've made life. As soon as both of you are alive, quit the game and start another game.

In the second game, try to play eyebrow to eyebrow style (don't let your opponent make life). Eyebrow to eyebrow means playing right in each others faces, right in each other's groups, trying to interfere. Play right on top of each other to prevent your opponent from making two eyes, but being careful not to be captured yourself. First person to make life wins the game.

(play a demo game on the demo board of the eyebrow to eyebrow style)

VOCABULARY WORDS:
EYE: one or more empty intersections surrounded by your own color stones on all four sides and at least 3 corners.
ALIVE - has at least two eyes. Means the group is invincible - cannot be captured.
DEAD - has only one or no eyes. Means the group can be attacked and captured.
REAL AND FALSE EYES - eyes need 3 of the corners to be occupied by your color stones in the middle of the board, all corners at the edge of the board to be a real eye.
VITAL POINT: where both players want to play to make a group alive or dead.