枷 (Net / Geta)

Spider Weaves a Web

Imagine a clever spider 🕷️ — it doesn't chase the fly (that's the cat's job), it weaves a web in front of the fly instead. The web doesn't touch the fly, but if the fly goes left it gets stuck, and if it goes right it gets stuck too. That's the "Net" in Go!

What is a Net (Geta)?

The net (Japanese: Geta) is an elegant capturing technique in Go. Unlike direct atari or the ladder, the net uses a strategy of "loose surrounding" — instead of playing directly adjacent to the opponent's stones, you place a stone at a slight distance, forming a "net" that ensures the opponent's stones will be captured no matter which direction they try to escape.

The Chinese name "jia" refers to a wooden cangue (a restraining device placed around a prisoner's neck), while the Japanese name "geta" refers to the shape of traditional wooden clogs. Both names vividly describe the essence of this tactic — stones caught in a net are like prisoners in a cangue: they appear to have room to move, but they absolutely cannot escape.

The net is one of the most important capturing techniques alongside the ladder, and it is especially valuable when the ladder fails (when there are ladder breakers). In such cases, the net often serves as the perfect alternative.

How the Net Differs from Direct Capture

To appreciate the elegance of the net, it helps to compare it with other capturing methods:

• Direct Atari: Playing adjacent to the opponent's stone, directly reducing its liberties. Simple and straightforward, but the opponent can easily escape
• Ladder: Chasing the opponent through continuous atari in a zigzag path. Effective but can be defeated by ladder breakers
• Net: Setting a "trap" ahead of the opponent's stones without direct contact. The opponent walks into the net when trying to escape

The greatest advantage of the net is that it is immune to ladder breakers. Because the net doesn't chase along a diagonal line but rather sets a trap ahead, no amount of reinforcement stones along the ladder path can help the opponent.

Basic Net Shape

The most basic net shape involves placing a stone diagonally ahead of the surrounded stone. The key is positioning your stone at the intersection of all possible escape routes.

Basic net shape: Black forms a net, White has no escape

Black has stones above and to the left of White, then places a crucial stone diagonally (the net point) to the lower-right of White. White now has two possible escape directions — right or down — but whichever direction White chooses, it will run into Black's surrounding net and eventually be captured.

Why the Net is Inescapable

Let's analyze why a stone caught in a net cannot escape:

Escape Direction 1: To the Right

If White escapes to the right, Black ataris from below. White continues rightward, but Black's net stone is already waiting there, and White is ultimately surrounded.

Escape Direction 2: Downward

If White escapes downward, Black ataris from the right. White continues down, but again runs into Black's net stone. The escape is blocked.

No matter which direction White chooses, it will be completely surrounded within 2-3 moves. This is the beauty of the net — a single stone serves as "double insurance," blocking all escape routes simultaneously.

White can try escaping right or down (green dots), but both routes lead to capture

Edge Nets

The net is especially effective near the board edges, because the edge itself limits escape directions. Edge nets require fewer stones to form an effective surrounding.

Edge net: Using the board edge, Black needs fewer stones to net White

On the edge, White's escape directions are already halved by the board boundary. Black only needs to place a stone in front of White's only escape route to form an effective net. This makes edge nets much easier to execute than center nets.

When to Use Net Instead of Ladder

Consider using a net in these situations:

• When the Ladder Fails: If there are ladder breakers along the path, the net is unaffected and serves as the best alternative
• For Efficiency: A net only requires one move to lock in the capture, while a ladder may need many chase moves
• Near Board Edges: Close to the edge, nets work especially well because escape space is limited
• When You Need Influence: The net stone naturally creates outside influence during the surrounding process, which benefits subsequent fighting

Advantages of the Net

The net has several unique advantages compared to other capturing methods:

• Immune to Ladder Breakers: This is the net's greatest advantage, making it the perfect alternative when ladders fail
• High Efficiency: One move locks in the capture — no multi-step chase required
• Creates Outside Influence: The net stone's position typically commands influence over the surrounding area. Even if the opponent abandons the netted stones, you gain valuable outside thickness
• Element of Surprise: Beginners often fail to see the net's threat because the net stone is placed at a distance from the captured stones

Related Tactics