The best way of defending a line is to link it back to a parallel path. Be careful when turning a line back that you don't give your opponent a loop threat. Any mistakes at this stage usually result in loop wins. The growing stage, as the position approaches and passes through the 8x8 threshold. Often lines, if there are any present, can become critical during this stage.
Losses here can be either loops or lines.
After the position becomes much bigger, line threats usually lose their significance, and loop threats tend to predominate. As the position gets larger it tends to become more and more unstable, until one player gradually loses the advantage and loses. Playing in caves generally results in more forced moves than playing elsewhere on the playing area. This can make it harder to see what is going to happen as a result of the move. This is made worse by some moves in caves being illegal.