When weak groups flee into the centre of the board, it seems there are limited opportunities to connect with a friendly group, especially if white and black groups alternate round the edge of the board.
As a contrived example, if white had two weak groups in diagonally opposite corners of the board and black had two weak groups in the other corners, either the white groups could connect up or the black groups, but not both.
If there are two or more weak black groups and two or more weak white groups, then, depending on their arrangement, some may be able to connect with each other, while others could not.
What’s the best way to think about this aspect of the game? (Or doesn’t it really matter?)
Groups that flee into the center don’t need to connect with each other to survive. Usually they have 1 eye below, you just need to create one more eye somewhere above.
Running to connect to a friendly group is an alternative to a group living on its own. Most groups that have room to run out to the center can live on their own eventually, but it might take many moves, replying defensively to enemy pressure over and over again, and the opponent may be gaining profit with every exchange. Connecting a weak group to an ally immediately resolves its status and usually preempts the need for additional costly follow-up defensive moves.
But the fact that connecting a weak group to an ally can be very efficient doesn’t mean all weak groups can be saved this way. Sometimes you need to pay the full price of making it live on its own (which is one reason to be careful when making weak groups, and make sure the benefit is worth the price you are going to pay). You’re absolutely correct that two groups on opposite corners of the board have little chance of linking up.
Usually center is unpredictable chaos where both players are at disadvantage.
When I have 4 or more standardly placed handicap stones I find it hard to defend them against stronger opponent. For me it’s hard to defend multiple groups that are far away from each other and more easy defend just 1 entire board group.
Single tengen stone barely change anything.
So, I created Square Fuseki.
Now any group effortlessly can flee into center and connect with all other groups, no need to think about eyes.
In normal fuseki against stronger opponent some of multiple far away groups usually die, no matter how hard I try, result is I lose by 80 points.
But now it’s more likely that no group die, and when no group die, I win or behind by just few points.
Perhaps a splitting attack is the concept you’re looking for? It means to prevent 2 weak groups running into the center from linking up. It’s a kind of double attack.
