Shinogi

Shinogi is the process of handling a weak group so that it survives capture. A player may save it by making eyes, connecting stones, escaping toward safety, or forcing the opponent to respond. The aim is to preserve the group and prevent it from becoming a decisive liability.

In practice, shinogi can include securing eye space, running into a safer area, connecting stones, sacrificing part of the group, or counterattacking to seize the initiative. It is a broader practical task than simply determining whether a group is alive or dead. Even when shinogi succeeds, the group may remain thin, damaged, or strategically inefficient rather than becoming fully settled.