What does cutting mean in Go?

Cutting means playing a stone that separates your opponent's stones into two groups. Each cut group then has to live on its own, which usually lets you attack both and profit from the fight.

Why is connecting important in Go?

Connected stones share liberties and eye space, making them strong and hard to capture. Keeping your important stones connected — and uncuttable — is one of the most reliable ways to stay safe.

What is a cutting point?

A cutting point is a spot where the opponent could play to split your stones into two groups. Good players watch their own cutting points and protect them, often with shapes like the tiger's mouth or bamboo joint.

Cutting and Connecting

Almost every fight in Go comes down to two opposite ideas: cutting your opponent's stones apart so they become weak, and keeping your own stones connected so they stay strong. "Cut what you can, connect what you must" is close to the whole art of fighting.

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Why connection is strength

Connected stones share liberties and eye space, which makes them hard to attack and easy to keep alive. Split those same stones into two groups and each becomes a separate weakness the opponent can chase. So much of good play is quietly making sure your important stones can't be cut apart.

Why cutting is powerful

If you can cut your opponent's stones into two groups that each need to live, you often get to attack both — and profit from the chase even if you capture neither. A single well-placed cut can turn a calm position into a fight where you hold all the initiative. Finding the cutting point is a core fighting skill.

Protecting your cutting points

A cutting point is a spot where your opponent could play to split you. Strong players are always aware of their own cutting points and either defend them in advance or make sure a cut wouldn't actually work. Shapes like the tiger's mouth and bamboo joint are prized precisely because they can't be cut.

Frequently asked questions

What does cutting mean in Go?: Cutting means playing a stone that separates your opponent's stones into two groups. Each cut group then has to live on its own, which usually lets you attack both and profit from the fight.
Why is connecting important in Go?: Connected stones share liberties and eye space, making them strong and hard to capture. Keeping your important stones connected — and uncuttable — is one of the most reliable ways to stay safe.
What is a cutting point?: A cutting point is a spot where the opponent could play to split your stones into two groups. Good players watch their own cutting points and protect them, often with shapes like the tiger's mouth or bamboo joint.

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