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Open In The Corner
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PageType: Path   Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Opening

Since the corner is where you can most easily make territory, this is where most openings start.

The discussion here assumes that you know what is meant by territory and influence, and that you see how both interact and which purpose both have. If not, you should read About influence.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Possible plays

The question is: where in the corner does one play? The question becomes an evaluation of whether you want to gain influence or territory.

First of all, a stone on the 1-1 point ('a') is pointless :-) It can be captured and doesn't give any territory.

A stone on the 2-2 point ('b') is not much better. Although it cannot be captured straight away, it has literally no potential for development, nor does it enclose any territory.

The 1-2 points ('c') fall for the same logic. (In general, playing 'below' the 2nd line when there is no compelling reason to do so is a weak move.)

The 2-3 points ('g') make a bit larger corner, but it is still much too small. They secure relatively few points, but what is perhaps even more important, a move at the 3-3 point ('d') (as well as one on the 3-4 point ('e')) also claims the corner, and at a larger scale. There are no advantages to the 2-3 points to compensate for the larger territory taken by the 3-3 point or the greater possibilities of expansion of the 3-4 point.

That leaves the following:

  • OtherCornerPlays: although the 5-3 points ('h') and the 5-4 points ('i') are too far from the corner to claim it, they still have much influence on it, and they are often played if one aims at the side respectively the center. Other points than those five are rare, although not completely unheared-of.


See also: Special properties of the corner



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