相连的棋子更强大 | Connected stones are stronger
在围棋中，连接是最基本也是最重要的概念之一。当两颗或多颗同色棋子在棋盘上水平或垂直相邻时，它们就形成了一个连接的整体（也叫做"块"或"串"）。连接在一起的棋子共同生存、共同死亡——它们共享气，必须同时被全部包围才会被吃掉。
理解连接是学习围棋战术的第一步。无论你是进攻还是防守，连接的概念都贯穿始终。保持自己棋子的连接，同时切断对手的连接，是围棋的核心策略。
单独一颗棋子在棋盘中央有4口气。但是当两颗棋子连在一起时，它们共享气数，总气数会增加。让我们来看看不同数量棋子连接后的气数变化。
两颗棋子水平相连时，它们共享6口气。虽然每颗棋子单独有4口气，但中间相连的两个点不算气（已被对方棋子占据），所以是 4 + 4 - 2 = 6 口气。
绿点标出了这两颗棋子共享的6口气。要吃掉这两颗棋子，白棋必须把这6口气全部堵住。
三颗棋子排成一条直线时，共有8口气。公式是 4 + 4 + 4 - 2 - 2 = 8。
棋子不一定要排成直线。只要水平或垂直相邻，就算连接。下面是一个L形的连接：
这是初学者最容易犯的错误之一。在围棋中，只有水平和垂直相邻的棋子才算连接。对角线上的棋子不算连接，它们是两个独立的棋子。
对角线的位置虽然不算连接，但在战术上仍然有意义。对角线的棋子可以互相支援，只是它们不共享气。如果对手在两颗对角棋子中间下棋，就可以把它们分成两个独立的部分。
如果连接让棋子更强，那么切断（也叫"断"）就是让对手的棋子变弱的重要手段。当你在对手两颗棋子之间下棋，阻止它们连接，这就是切断。
下图中，白棋下在两颗黑棋之间，成功切断了它们的连接：
被切断后，两颗黑棋变成了两个独立的棋子，各自只有少量的气。白棋可以选择攻击其中较弱的一颗。
既然连接如此重要，初学者应该注意以下几点：
随着你围棋水平的提高，你会发现连接有更深层的含义：
这些高级概念在实战中会逐渐学会。现在最重要的是记住：相连的棋子更强，被切断的棋子更弱。
In Go, connection is one of the most fundamental and important concepts. When two or more stones of the same color are horizontally or vertically adjacent on the board, they form a connected group (also called a "chain" or "string"). Connected stones live together and die together -- they share liberties and must all be surrounded simultaneously to be captured.
Understanding connection is the first step in learning Go tactics. Whether you are attacking or defending, the concept of connection runs through everything. Keeping your own stones connected while cutting your opponent's connections is the core strategy of Go.
A single stone in the center of the board has 4 liberties. But when two stones are connected, they share their liberties, and the total number increases. Let us look at how liberty counts change as more stones connect together.
When two stones are connected horizontally, they share 6 liberties. Although each stone individually has 4 liberties, the two points between them are occupied (by each other), so the total is 4 + 4 - 2 = 6 liberties.
The green dots mark the 6 shared liberties of these two stones. To capture this group, White must block all 6 liberties.
Three stones in a straight line share 8 liberties. The formula is 4 + 4 + 4 - 2 - 2 = 8.
Stones do not have to be in a straight line. As long as they are horizontally or vertically adjacent, they are connected. Here is an L-shaped connection:
This is one of the most common mistakes beginners make. In Go, only stones that are horizontally or vertically adjacent are considered connected. Stones on a diagonal are NOT connected -- they are two independent stones.
Diagonal stones can still support each other tactically, but they do not share liberties. If your opponent plays between two diagonal stones, they become completely separate groups that must each survive on their own.
If connection makes stones stronger, then cutting is the essential technique to make your opponent's stones weaker. When you play between two of your opponent's stones, preventing them from connecting, that is a cut.
In the diagram below, White plays between two black stones, successfully cutting their connection:
After being cut, the two black stones become independent, each with fewer liberties. White can choose to attack whichever stone is weaker.
Since connection is so important, beginners should keep these points in mind:
As your Go skills improve, you will discover deeper aspects of connection:
These advanced concepts will come naturally through practice. For now, the key takeaway is: connected stones are stronger, and cut stones are weaker.