Squeeze tesuji

Table of contents Introduction Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 See also

Table of diagrams Squeeze tesuji Squeeze tesuji Continuing pressure Final position Lethal squeeze (White 4 connects) Black can't resist White solves a larger problem Black is dead

Introduction

The squeeze tesuji is a play by which you squeeze the opponent's stones into an inefficient dumpling shape. Often a successful squeeze includes sacrificing one or more stones to make the opponent's shape bad first.

The squeeze wrings out the liberties of a group of your opponent's stones by a combination of atari moves and/or atari threats.

Squeeze plays are very rewarding and normally quite easy to spot. With a bit of practice you can also see how to set up a squeeze by forcing your opponent into a bad shape, and conversely, how to avoid being squeezed yourself.

Example 1

Squeeze tesuji  

In this example, after White plays , Black invites the cut with , sacrifices ...

Squeeze tesuji  

... in order to force with and then squeeze with and - ending up with good shape and leaving White in a dango shape.

Continuing pressure  

Black continues to squeeze White, making territory in the process.

Final position  

White's group is still weak.

Example 2

Lethal squeeze (White 4 connects)  

The squeeze can also be used as a capturing technique. In this example, Black sacrifices the marked stone to squeeze with and and subsequently kills with .

Example 3

Black can't resist  

Before connecting, White pushed a little bit into the center with . Black could not resist . Instead of trying to save the marked stone, White plays .

White solves a larger problem  

Followed by , which seals the black group in.

Black is dead  

leaves Black with a very bad shape, and White plays out to , guarding against a cut at a, and sealing off Black's escape route through b.

The top two examples on this page are shamelessly copied (with permission) from goproblems.com - which has many other tesuji problems as well.

See also

• Squeeze Tesuji in action 1
• Squeeze Tesuji in action 2
• Squeeze tesuji in joseki
• Two-stone edge squeeze
• Two-stone corner squeeze
• Oshitsubushi
• Dumpling shape
• Western squeeze
• Segoe tesuji problem 2