connection

A.k.a. tsugi. Solidly connected stones are connected by definition of the rules of go. However, stones that could be, in theory, be made to solidly connect despite every effort from the opponent, are also said to be connected. In the diagram all the black stones are connected. So are all the white stones including the two marked by crosses, albeit in this case less obviously so - it so happens that any stone attempting to cut the keima shape can here be captured.