Nets and Ladders
Nets and ladders are two of the most basic ways to capture stones.
Net
A net encloses one more more stones. Although the net has holes, each time the opponent tries to escape, the attacker can block.
Play A to form the net, and then block the opponent’s attempts to escape.
Ladder
A ladder puts the opponent in atari every move, usually in a pattern resembling a ladder or staircase.
Atari the white stone to start the ladder. Be careful at each step to atari the correct direction! If you make a mistake halfway in, try Undo and atari the other direction.
Snapback
A snapback is a capture technique that works by making a small sacrifice.
The Throw-in at A captures the White stones.
Even if White captures, the White stones still have only 1 liberty.
Black can play again and capture the entire White group.
The snapback may feel similar to a ko — Black plays a single stone, White captures it, and Black captures back by playing on the same spot again.
The difference is: in a snapback, the position doesn’t repeat, so it is not a ko.
Crane’s nest
The crane’s nest is a classic tesuji for capturing fleeing stones.
White is tries to run away by jumping to A.
But Black can sacrifice at B.
Even though White captures the stone, Black squeezes and the White stones quickly run out of liberties.