Anyone heard of the six point rule?
The six point rule (6目ルール) is that surrounding 6 points will usually secures life.
Let's first apply the rule to two groups to see how it works.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B Shape
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . X X . . . .
$$ | . O X . . . .
$$ | . O O X . . .
$$ | . . O X . X .
$$ | . . O O X . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]
In this shape it looks like white has surrounded 6 points. If we are naive about it then we would reach a dead shape, see the next diagram, though it could be possible to escape
However, with a better defense, seen in the next-next diagram, it is clear that white does survive and indeed has 6 points.
I'd say that the rule predicts that white is alive based on the more naive variation. That is white is surrounding 6 points on the face of it. It is a useful visual guide for spotting tsumego in your own games but you need to be very careful.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B Shape has six points (on the face of it)
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . X X . . . .
$$ | 3 O X . . . .
$$ | 4 O O X . . .
$$ | . . O X . X .
$$ | . . O O X . .
$$ | . . 2 1 . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B Shape is alive
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . X X . . . .
$$ | . O X . . . .
$$ | . O O X . . .
$$ | . . O X . X .
$$ | 2 . O O X . .
$$ | . . . 1 . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]
Now, here is a shape where white does not have six points. White could be said to have 5 points, on the face of it. This shape is therefore predicted to be dead if black attacks.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B Shape
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . X X X . . .
$$ | . O O X . . .
$$ | . . O X . X .
$$ | . . O O X . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B Shape has 5 points
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . X X X . . .
$$ | 1 O O X . . .
$$ | 2 . O X . X .
$$ | . . O O X . .
$$ | . . 4 3 . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B Shape is dead (You just have to believe me)
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . 3 . . . . .
$$ | 2 X X X . . .
$$ | 8 O O X . . .
$$ | . 9 O X . X .
$$ | 4 7 O O X . .
$$ | . 5 6 1 0 . .
$$ +--------------[/go]
Here are some shapes that are alive, have six points and I shamelessly lifted from the linked youtube video.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . X O . . O X . . . . X O O X X . .|
$$ | . . X . O . O X X X X X X O O . . . .|
$$ | . . . , O . . O O O O O O . . O X X .|
$$ | . X X X O . . . . . . . . . . . O X .|
$$ | . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . O O .|
$$ | . . . . . . . O O O O O . . . . . O .|
$$ | . . O . . . O . X X X . O . . O O X .|
$$ | . O . . . . O X . . . X O . O X X X .|
$$ | . X O O . . O X . , . X O . O X . . .|
$$ | . X X X O . O . X X . X O . O X . . .|
$$ | . . . X O . . O O X . O . . O X X X .|
$$ | . . X O . . . . . O O . . . . O O X .|
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . O .|
$$ | . X X O . . . . . . . . . . O O . O .|
$$ | . O O , O O O O O , . . . O . , O O .|
$$ | . . O O X X X X X O O . . O X X X X .|
$$ | . . O X X . . . X X O . . O X . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]
Is this one of those ancient sage wisdoms that no one has heard of? Are there any other similar rules? I can't seem to think of any.
I think I recall hearing about it long time ago. Something passed on by a friendly Japanese man to the local Go club. I might not remember that correctly, I didn't believe in such rules back then
Now I heard about it (again?) from the Shibanos channel.