Editing Go (game) (section)

=== Middlegame and endgame ===
The middle phase of the game is the most combative, and usually lasts for more than 100 moves. During the middlegame, the players invade each other's territories, and attack formations that lack the necessary ''two eyes'' for viability. Such groups may be saved or sacrificed for something more significant on the board.<ref name="Think Big in Go">{{cite web|last1=David|first1=Ormerod|title=Thinking big in Go|url=http://gogameguru.com/thinking-big/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211223806/http://gogameguru.com/thinking-big|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 11, 2011|publisher=GoGameGuru|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref> It is possible that one player may succeed in capturing a large weak group of the opponent's, which often proves decisive and ends the game by a resignation. However, matters may be more complex yet, with major trade-offs, apparently dead groups reviving, and skillful play to attack in such a way as to construct territories rather than kill.<ref name="Induction in Go">{{cite web|last1=David|first1=Ormerod|title=Go technique: Induction in the game of Go|url=http://gogameguru.com/go-technique-induction/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902060143/http://gogameguru.com/go-technique-induction/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 2, 2010|publisher=GoGameGuru|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>

The end of the middlegame and transition to the endgame is marked by a few features. Near the end of a game, play becomes divided into localized fights that do not affect each other,{{sfn|Müller|Gasser|1996|p=273}} with the exception of ''ko'' fights, where previously, the central area of the board related to all parts of it. No large weak groups are still in serious danger. Moves can reasonably be attributed some definite value, such as 20 points or fewer, rather than simply being necessary to compete. Both players set limited objectives in their plans, in making or destroying territory, capturing or saving stones. These changing aspects of the game usually occur at much the same time, for strong players. In brief, the middlegame switches into the endgame when the concepts of strategy and influence need reassessment in terms of concrete final results on the board.