RE: computer-go: Rules clarification

["Russ Williams" <russw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>     -------------
>   2|# # # O O O O|2    # to play
>   1|. # . # . O .|1
>     -------------
>
> There are really two questions here:
> 1:  How will the game continue, assuming skilful play?
> 2:  What, then, will be the result?
>
> We are to assume Japanese rules.
>
> 1.
> I can see two possible lines of skilful play:
>     B pass
>     W pass
> and
>     B C1
>     W pass
>     B pass
>
> 2.
> After either line, the result is seki.  So no points are scored on the
> board.  The prisoners (unspecified) and the komi (unspecified) are added
> up, and the sum determines the result.
>
> Nick

I assume the point of the original question was "wouldn't it be skillful
play of black to keep playing "B-E1 W-D1 B-D2 W-pass B-E1 ...?" so that the
game never terminates, rather than suffer a loss.  Simple ko doesn't prevent
black from doing that, right?  It does raise an issue with the notion of
"the game terminates after both players pass" in that I have no incentive to
pass if I'm going to lose. :)  So what prevents this scenario other than the
assumption that black is a good sport?

Russ