Chapter 5 · Fighting over Good Squares

Spoiling: Turn the Opponent's Good Square into a Bad One

If you can neither take it first nor defend, you can change the shape so that playing there costs the opponent. This is spoiling.

The opponent's good square is usually one where they can enter quietly, flipping few discs. If you connect your separated discs in advance, the opponent has to flip more discs on the same square, and a quiet move turns into a losing one.

Spoiling is the third method, used when taking first and defense are difficult, but even when they are possible you may choose spoiling if it gives a better shape. Do not decide only because the number of flipped discs grew; check that the square has really become worse for the opponent.

Black to move. White would like to play B3, a quiet move that flips only C4. Black cannot play B3, and after Black G3 (engine prediction -2), White plays B3.
In the same position, Black C3 connects with C4, so if White plays B3 it must flip two discs, C3 and C4. B3 is no longer White's best move, and Black C3 is the best move in this position with an engine prediction of +7. Compare it with the first board.

Exercise

White to move. Black would like to play C6. Of the marked C7 and G5, which move makes Black flip more discs on C6?

Exercise

White to move. Of the marked D3 and E7, which move makes the opponent flip more discs on the square they most want?

Exercise

White to move. Of the marked B3 and G4, which move makes the opponent flip more discs on the square they most want?

Exercise

Black to move. Of the marked B4 and C7, which move makes the opponent flip more discs on the square they most want?

Exercise

White to move. Of the marked C2 and F6, which move makes the opponent flip more discs on the square they most want?

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