Cutting Principles Explained?

[jeffb99]

I'm finding that a serious weakness in my game is cutting. When to, when not to, how to defend against, etc. I frequently cut only to find myself in big trouble 3 or 4 moves later. I guess I'm just not "getting it".

I'm slowly working my way thru "Attack and Defense". But is there another book, online resource, or YouTube video you can recommend that can specifically help explain cutting principles?

Thanks!!

--Jeff

[Bill Spight]

I'm finding that a serious weakness in my game is cutting. When to, when not to, how to defend against, etc. I frequently cut only to find myself in big trouble 3 or 4 moves later. I guess I'm just not "getting it".

I'm slowly working my way thru "Attack and Defense". But is there another book, online resource, or YouTube video you can recommend that can specifically help explain cutting principles?

Thanks!!

--Jeff

I don't know of a book about cutting. However, I think that you are doing the right thing. If you cut and your opponent refutes the cut, you have learned something. If you don't cut, you may never know whether you should have or not.

[skydyr]

The simple (or not so simple, as you may see it) answer is that you have to read out before you cut and decide if the result is to your liking or not. The farther you can read, the better, of course, and positional judgement is helpful too, to evaluate the results you read. There's no real shortcut that gets around this. Knowledge of tesuji is very helpful for this as well.

That said, there are a few things you can think about to help:

- Help the weaker side
- Determine if you should keep both sides alive, or if you are cutting as a sacrificial technique.
- Consider surrounding stones to determine where weak groups can run, etc.
- Have a goal in mind prior to cutting. If it's something like "separate black into two groups and make territory here while I attack this one" it's good. If it's something like "there's a cutting point so I'd better cut" it needs some work, though "I get a horrible result here if I don't cut, and I can't read it failing spectacularly anytime soon" is much better.
- Keep track of how many liberties each group has.
- You can read farther than you think you can, if you force yourself. Especially when it's a one-way street.
- Experimenting is good. Playing moves you know don't work is not. Know the difference, and don't expect your opponent to miss refutations you are aware of.

[Gotraskhalana]

I have found myself an internet opponent who is nominally several stones weaker than me but he peeps and cut everything. If I leave a fatal cut, it *will* be punished.

I mostly still win, because he blunders as well and dies even bigger, but I intend to play against him until nothing dies that I have not intentionally sacrificed several moves before it dies.

It certainly focusses your concentration when leaving a cut unprotected if you *know* that it will be cut.

[RobertJasiek]

The most basic cutting principle is: "Make important cuts." Just when is a cut important? If you gain more in sente than you lose or if you make a large profit in gote (e.g., from killing). A cut is unimportant if the move is neutral and does not attack or defend.

I can tell you a book with 19 cutting principles but you would not buy the book ONLY for its cutting topic. That said, I do not recall other books with as many cutting principles, especially none discussing cutting throughout the whole book. (And no, Crosscut Workshop is no such book.)

As a beginner, the principle above is the key. Find out what is (not) important.

[DrStraw]

There is a book, Cross-cut workshop or something like that. I've not read it. Perhaps others can comment on if it is what you are looking for.

[daal]

One thing to think about is if cutting will leave at least one weak group. If it doesn't, it's probably not a great move.

[Pio2001]

Yes,
Creating two weak groups from a strong one is great.
Cutting off a weak part from a strong group is good.
Cutting apart two strong groups is a waste of stones.

[bayu]

Usually when cutting, you're cut too. Whom does it hurt more?

[EdLee]

Hi Jeff, do you know about Bruce Wilcox's Contact Fights ?

[jeffb99]

The simple (or not so simple, as you may see it) answer is that you have to read out before you cut and decide if the result is to your liking or not.

Definitely NOT so simple! Being able to read 3 or 4+ moves ahead is certainly a big part of the problem and a goal. But if I have some principles to guide me (like those in the responses), I think that would help.

To everyone else...thanks for the advice! More welcomed!

--Jeff

[hyperpape]

Definitely NOT so simple! Being able to read 3 or 4+ moves ahead is certainly a big part of the problem and a goal. But if I have some principles to guide me (like those in the responses), I think that would help.

Anyone enjoying Attack and Defense can read 3 or 4 moves ahead. Reading accurately that far is a bit more difficult.

Take inventory of these cutting issues. Take time to make a note of what you read, including the line you thought the game would take. You will find one of two things: you are reading accurately, but four moves later you realize your judgment was bad, or you were not reading the moves that your opponent ended up making. But based on your comment, you will already benefit from taking that time. Several of Bill's recent comments have impressed on me the importance of willing yourself to play better, and putting effort into each move.

Posting some of those instances for analysis can also be quite helpful.

[Bill Spight]

Several of Bill's recent comments have impressed on me the importance of willing yourself to play better, and putting effort into each move.

Not willing yourself to play better, playing better. Willpower rarely works.

[hyperpape]

I'm not sure I understand the distinction, Bill. What I took you to say was that there are a lot of ways we don't play up to our own potential, and with the right sort of effort and attention, we can make ourselves play up to it. And I'd gloss that as willpower--making sure to put effort into each move, avoid thoughtless play, etc.

Where am I going wrong?

[Bill Spight]

I'm not sure I understand the distinction, Bill. What I took you to say was that there are a lot of ways we don't play up to our own potential, and with the right sort of effort and attention, we can make ourselves play up to it. And I'd gloss that as willpower--making sure to put effort into each move, avoid thoughtless play, etc.

Where am I going wrong?

I wouldn't say that you are going wrong. So much in these matters is individual and personal. If that works for you, fine.