Let \(D\) be a divisor on a smooth projective curve \(X\) of genus \(g\) over \(k = \bar{k}\).
\(D\) is ample if and only if \(\deg D > 0\).
\(\deg D \geq 2g\) implies \(\abs{D}\) is base-point free.
\(\deg D \geq 2g+1\) implies \(D\) is very ample.
On a curve ampleness collapses to a single integer, and this is the cleanest place to see the ample-against-very-ample distinction: positivity of the degree is ample, but very ampleness needs the degree to clear a genus-dependent threshold. Raising the degree past \(2g+1\) is exactly what taking powers achieves, which is the definition of ample in this case.
The thresholds are what Riemann–Roch gives: once \(\deg D > 2g-2\) the correction term vanishes and \(h^0\) is computable, so the conditions for base points and for separation become arithmetic. Both bounds are sharp on an elliptic curve, where \(g = 1\) and degree \(2\) gives the base-point-free double cover of \(\PP^1\) while degree \(3\) first embeds.
Dependencies
D-DIVAMPLEAmple and very ample divisorsusesPR-Y5S7VThe degree of a divisor on a projective curveuses