In practice when the situation can be played out one usually plays it out till the opponent is convinced. There are however situations where you can’t play it out.
Under Japanese rules certain local shapes are per definition dead when the game ends. Bent for in the Corner is one example.
If there are nonremoveable ko threads on the board those shapes don’t die in Chinese rules or other rule sets that require playing out.
In practice when the situation can be played out one usually plays it out till the opponent is convinced. There are however situations where you can’t play it out.
Under Japanese rules certain local shapes are per definition dead when the game ends. Bent for in the Corner is one example. If there are nonremoveable ko threads on the board those shapes don’t die in Chinese rules or other rule sets that require playing out.