Every capture in Go comes down to one idea: liberties. The words around that idea, such as atari, self-atari and snapback, are some of the first a new player learns and some of the most useful for the rest of their Go life. This article defines each term clearly and shows small positions that make them concrete.
Liberty
A liberty is an empty point directly next to a stone, along the lines of the board. Diagonal points do not count. A single stone in the middle of the board has four liberties; on the edge, three; in the corner, two.
When stones of the same colour touch along the lines, they form a group (sometimes called a chain), and they share liberties. The group's liberties are all the empty points next to any of its stones.
Capture
A stone or group with no liberties is captured and removed from the board. You capture by filling the last liberty. Under the area scoring used on this site, captured stones do not need to be kept aside; removing them from the board already changes the count.
Atari
A group is in atari when it has exactly one liberty left. If its owner does nothing, the opponent captures it next move. Saying "atari" when you put a stone in atari was once a polite custom in casual games, a little like saying "check" in chess, but it is not required and many players do not.
When your stone is in atari, you have three basic options:
- Extend into the last liberty to gain more liberties.
- Connect to a friendly group with more liberties.
- Give it up and play elsewhere if saving it is not worth it.
Extending does not always help: if the extended group still has only one or two liberties, it may be caught in a ladder or net. See the ladder and the net.
Self-atari
Self-atari is a move that puts your own stone or group into atari. It is usually a mistake, because your opponent captures immediately. Beginners often play self-atari while trying to attack, not noticing that their attacking stone has only one liberty.
Self-atari is sometimes deliberate: sacrificing a stone to make the opponent's shape worse, or to prepare a snapback. But unless you have read it carefully, avoid it.
Suicide
A move that leaves your stone or group with zero liberties, without capturing anything, is suicide. On this site suicide is not allowed; the board will not accept the move. If a move fills your last liberty but also captures opposing stones, it is not suicide, because the capture happens first and gives you liberties.
Snapback
A snapback is a clever capture pattern. You deliberately let your opponent capture one of your stones, and the capturing move leaves their group with only one liberty, so you immediately capture a larger group back.
Snapbacks are a classic surprise for beginners: capturing looks natural, but it walks into the trap. Whenever you are about to capture a single stone, check how many liberties your capturing group will have afterwards. If it is only one, look for a snapback.
Connect and cut
- Connect: joining two of your stones or groups along the lines so they share liberties. Connected groups are stronger.
- Cut: playing on a point that separates two of your opponent's stones, forcing them to survive as separate groups.
Diagonal stones are not connected. They can be cut if the opponent takes both connecting points. See cutting and connecting.
Counting liberties in fights
Most tactical fights, from a simple atari to a long capturing race, are decided by liberties. Counting them accurately is the most useful habit a new player can build. Before any capture, check:
- How many liberties does the target have?
- How many liberties will my attacking stones have after my move?
- Can my opponent gain liberties by connecting or capturing?
The article on capturing races takes this further.
Where these words come from
"Atari" is a Japanese word, borrowed into English Go vocabulary along with many others. Vietnamese players use khí for liberty and often simply say that a stone has "one khí left" rather than using a word for atari. The article on Vietnamese Go words lists more equivalents.
Practising the capture vocabulary
The fastest way to learn these terms is to play small games and name what happens. On 9×9 against the computer on the home page, you will meet atari, self-atari and captures within minutes. Try saying the term to yourself each time: "atari", "self-atari", "snapback". Naming patterns helps you notice them earlier in future games.
When you are ready, play people on the online page, and sign in on the account page to save your games. Replaying a game and naming each capture is a surprisingly effective review.
A short liberty-counting drill
Here is a drill that takes five minutes a day and makes these words automatic. Set up a few stones of each colour on a 9×9 board, anywhere you like. For every group, count its liberties aloud. Then play one stone and count again. Keep going until someone is in atari, and say the word when it happens. After a week of this, you will notice atari and self-atari during real games without having to look for them.
A variation for two players: take turns placing stones, and before each move the player must say how many liberties the opponent's weakest group has. Mistakes are common at first, especially with larger groups whose liberties are spread around corners. That is exactly why the drill is useful. Most tactical errors in real games come from a single miscounted liberty, and counting practice removes them faster than any other exercise.
Frequently asked questions
What is a liberty in Go?
An empty point directly next to a stone or group, along the lines. Diagonal points do not count.
What does atari mean?
A stone or group with exactly one liberty left, which can be captured next move.
What is the difference between self-atari and suicide?
Self-atari leaves your stones with one liberty. Suicide leaves them with none, without capturing, and is not allowed on this site.
What is a snapback?
A pattern where you let the opponent capture a stone, and their capturing group is left in atari so you capture more back.
Do I have to say "atari" when I play it?
No. It was once a casual custom, but it is not a rule.
