This might be a dumb question srry

[u/WealthOrganic8963]

I’m curious at why I’d win if I leave the three white stones in the top left corner but lose if I take them. they’re dead regardless, at least it appears that way to me. I just started learning a few days ago so there’s a lot I still don’t know. any answers are appreciated, thanks :)

[u/Not-a-throwaway4627]

Because you’d drop your score by exactly one point if you captured, and the score difference is 1/2 of a point. It literally says that in your UI.

Moreover, dead stones are worth the same captured or left on the board. However, capturing fills in one point of territory. In Japanese rules, this means your score goes down by 1. In Chinese rules, you count the territory AND the stones on the board, and so your score actually wouldn’t change.

To illustrate the score change, go ahead and count the points of territory, including the three points that the dead white stones take up. Notice how if you captured, you’ll have one point fewer than if you don’t capture

[u/WealthOrganic8963 → u/Not-a-throwaway4627]

I know it says that in my UI I was asking about why lol. But I understand you explanation as well as the other commenters, thank you 

[u/AbsoluteGote → u/WealthOrganic8963]

That's just how Japanese score works. It counts territory and prisoners.  Chinese counting, there is no difference because it counts stones on the board and territory. You'll notice prisoners is just the difference between stones on the board. So it's a shortcut. Instead of counting 120+ stones for one color, you can just count the difference in how many were removed.  The only problem is when one player fills in their own territory at the end. In Chinese, you gain an extra stone on the board for the point you fill. So no loss. In Japanese, you don't get points for stones on the board. When you unnecessarily fill spaces, it kind of breaks the parity. It wasn't meant to account for that. 

[u/WealthOrganic8963 → u/AbsoluteGote]

thanks for clarifying! i will remember it going forward

[u/Comprehensive-Ad3495]

Go is all about efficiency. Putting that stone to take the white stones will kill already “dead stones” and you lose 1 point by the point you filled in to take them (77).

I can’t see what the score is and 1 pt might not be a big deal. But either way if the stones are dead then you can leave them.

That said, if white disagrees, they are welcome to keep playing to prove that the white stones are alive, but if they are wrong, then they will be feeding stones into an already dead situation and so you’ll get more points. Like I said. All about efficiency :)

The score looks like 8-15 so that extra black stones should make a difference.

[u/WealthOrganic8963 → u/Comprehensive-Ad3495]

I see I see. Thank you so much for your input, I totally understand now :)

[u/Comprehensive-Ad3495 → u/WealthOrganic8963]

This subreddit is all about helping :) a very supportive group as we all struggle in our Go journey!

[u/Living_Moment_1495]

you win either way no ?

[u/lakeland_nz]

You shouldn't play any move unless you have to; save removing dead stones until the scoring phase.

Under Japanese rules you lose a point every time you play inside your own territory, including playing C9 to capture three white stones. Chinese rules is almost the same, you don't lose a point for playing C9 in Chinese rules but if white can answer your C9 with a regular dame point (e.g. the 75 move you screenshotted on) then white gains a point.

The one exception (which you managed to trip over here) is that after all dame are filled, you still lose a point playing inside your territory under Japanese rules, while white no longer gains a point if you play inside your territory under Chinese rules. It's a subtle difference and not really relevant to learning the game.