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Enclosures
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Shimaris

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Shimari
  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: Opening, Go term

[Diagram]
Diag.: Some shimaris

A shimari, or corner enclosure, is a position in the corner where one player has made two moves. The most common shimaris are the ones shown here. In the upper left, the keima shimari (Japanese: kogeima-jimari) is shown. It lays a strong claim on the corner and also radiates influence to the outside. The ikken tobi shimari (Japanese: ikken-jimari) in the upper right is stronger in influence, especially along the upper side, but weaker at protecting the corner. There is a weak point at a that Black can exploit. In the lower left we find the ogeima shimari (Japanese: ogeima-jimari). It stakes out a larger territory than the keima shimari, but is also rather thin, leaving more aji behind. In the lower right is a two-space shimari (Japanese: niken-jimari), which is less common and also rather thin.


[Diagram]
Diag.: An irregular shimari

When starting at the 3-4 point, one will try to get one of the above shimaris. The same holds for the 5-3 and 5-4 points. On rare occasions it is better to make an irregular shimari like the one shown on the left (3554 enclosure). This one has a strong influence to the center, but despite the fact that Black has played two moves, the corner is still open. For that reason, it is only advisable in special circumstances - in particular when Black is building a large moyo in the center.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Shimari from the 3-3 and 4-4 point

Because of their symmetric position, making a shimari is less important for stones at the 3-3 and 4-4 points. From those a long extension along the side is more common. If a shimari is made, the marked points are the most usual ones.



John Fairbairn Rather than the bastard terms keima shimari and ikken tobi shimari can I suggest using the phrases "small low shimari", "small high shimari", "large low shimari" and large high shimari" for the four main shimaris shown?


See also: Attacking/Reducing Shimari on how to attack and/or reduce shimari-based moyos.


Main author: Andre Engels



This is a copy of the living page "Shimari" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.