fighting
Fighting occurs when the boundaries and/or the life status of opposing groups of stones come into conflict. Fighting is inherently risky, so deciding if, when, and where to pick a fight, is best done with considerable care. Ideally fighting should only be initiated, where the player has a local advantage with regard to the relative strength of stones, and only if and when he is behind in territory as calculated with regard to the notional boundaries. Although fighting should not be initiated lightly, players must always be ready to fight back if their opponent throws the first blow. Whatever the theoretical considerations, some players prefer to fight at every opportunity, and if they are appreciably better at fighting than their opponent this can be a viable strategy. |