The Net (Geta) in Go: Catching a Stone That Can't Run

⏱ Read ~4 min · Updated July 2026 · Part of: Learn Go

A net (罩／門吃, geta) catches a fleeing stone without chasing it. Instead of a ladder's tight zig-zag to the edge, a net loosely surrounds the stone so that wherever it runs, a stone is already waiting.

1. Net vs ladder

A ladder chases a stone in atari zig-zag to the edge — fast and tight, but it fails if a ladder breaker sits in the path. A net is the safer cousin: it doesn't put the stone in atari right away. It just stands in the way of every escape, so the stone is caught eventually no matter where it runs.

🕸️ Analogy: a ladder is chasing a fly with a swatter — straight-line, can be dodged by a wall (breaker). A net is dropping a net over the fly — it doesn't matter which way it flies.

2. When to choose a net

• A ladder would hit a breaker → use a net instead.
• The fleeing stone is in the center, far from any edge → nets work well in open space.
• You want a capture that can't be escaped by sacrifice.

3. The loose surround

A net is "loose": your stones aren't touching the enemy (that would be a tight fight, not a net). They sit one or two moves away, at the points the runner needs. The runner extends — you cover. Eventually it runs out of directions.

🎯 The key reading skill: before playing, check that every escape point is covered by your net. If one direction is open, it's not a real net.

4. On a 4×4 board

Small boards make nets short and obvious: the edge itself acts like part of your net, so a fleeing stone in a corner is often already half-netted. brainGO puzzles that look like escapes are frequently nets in disguise.

Try it

See how a loose surround catches what a chase can't.

👉 Play brainGO — set your first net

Related guides

• Learn Go: the visual beginner's guide
• The Ladder (shichō) — the edge-chase alternative
• Atari in Go — what puts a stone on the run