n-connection
A structural measure of how many independent routes protect two stones or groups from being cut apart.
n-connection describes a relationship in which two stones or groups are linked by n independent connecting routes. As a result, fewer than n effective cuts cannot separate them. The routes may pass through stones or designated connecting points, so the count concerns the available structure rather than simply the visible distance between the stones.
To test the connection, remove relevant stones or cut connecting points and check whether the required number of independent paths remains. This concept provides a structural way to evaluate connection strength and resistance to cutting. Unlike direct or indirect connection, it counts independent routes rather than describing the connection’s geometric form. It does not mean a connection involving n stones. The exact meaning of “independent route” depends on the formal context, and n-connection should not be confused with ordinary connectedness or with the number of stones in a chain.
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