unconditional life
A rules-oriented status in which a group survives every legal attack.
Also known as
Unconditional life (also unconditionally alive) describes a group or position whose stones are guaranteed to survive under all legal play by the opponent. The group remains uncapturable even if the opponent plays first and continues the attack; its status does not rely on ko threats, favorable timing, move-order concessions, or the opponent passing.
In rules and life-and-death analysis, this status identifies stones that are alive without requiring any further play. Unlike ordinary or conditional life, it does not depend on the opponent accepting a particular sequence, overlooking a tactic, or losing a ko fight. The term is analytical and rule-oriented: a group can be unconditionally alive without having two clearly formed eyes, as in a seki-like position.