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Play Away From Thickness
Path: GeneralOpeningPrinciples · Prev: · Next: PlayUrgentMovesBeforeBigMoves Path: GoProverbs · Prev: NeverIgnoreAShoulderHit · Next: APonnukiIsWorthThirtyPoints
Keywords: Proverb
Play away from thicknessThis is a very important proverb, but it should not be misunderstood. The next diagram is a good illustration. When speaking of thickness, the examples coming to mind usually involve impressing walls. Here the marked stone doesn't make a wall at all, but it is certainly part of a thick group with has influence on the upper part of the board. Neither black or white should consider this part of the board as important, at least in the beginning phase of the game. Why is it so? For white, the side is uninteresting because the marked stone is low and no really big potential territory can be developed. For black, a move around A would be a natural development from the hoshi stone, but white could easily invade and live without fearing any consequences on her strong group.
In this artificially created position, the marked white stone obviously goes against the proverb not to play in the neighborhood of thickness. White plays just next a thick black position! Is it a bad move for this reason? No, there is nothing wrong with it because this move is a kikashi which can be discarded after black connects. White is not trying to establish herself in the area, she just wants to play a move which might help her in the future, without losing anything. On the contrary, an invasion at A for instance, would go against the rule and would be very bad (there is absolutely no prospect of making a base for white in this area). Actually, the proverb should state: don't try to build a position too close to your opponent's thickness. The proverb also applies to your own thickness. If you build two strong groups in the same area of the board, you somehow duplicate your efforts, which is not efficient. Path: GeneralOpeningPrinciples · Prev: · Next: PlayUrgentMovesBeforeBigMoves Path: GoProverbs · Prev: NeverIgnoreAShoulderHit · Next: APonnukiIsWorthThirtyPoints This is a copy of the living page "Play Away From Thickness" at Sensei's Library. (C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0. |