Non-cutting stones
Stones that the opponent cannot effectively separate, even when they are not directly connected.
Non-cutting stones are stones that cannot be effectively cut apart by the opponent. Their connection is secure enough in practice, or an attempted cut fails because of surrounding stones, available liberties, or the tactical consequences of fighting the cut.
Recognizing non-cutting stones helps you assess the strength of a group and avoid wasting moves defending connections that are already safe. This term describes practical resistance to separation, not necessarily a direct physical connection between adjacent stones. Whether stones are truly non-cutting depends on the whole position and accurate tactical reading: a connection that is safe locally may still be vulnerable to a cut or attack elsewhere on the board.