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Tenuki
Path: AspectsOfSacrifice   · Prev: SacrificeThePlumForThePeach   · Next: Furikawari
Path: ForcingAndInitiative   · Prev: IntermediatePlays   · Next: MutualDamage

  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Go term

Tenuki is used to denote playing somewhere else. Black plays tenuki by not answering White's last move locally, but instead adding a move in another part of the board [1].

Why tenuki matters

One of the commonest amateur mistakes is getting locked into the local fight and continuing to play there when there are larger plays elsewhere. Tenuki is always an option.

A proverb says Play the big points first?, but playing tenuki without knowledge does not work. There is a difference between a play that is big and one that is urgent. Therefore, another proverb says: Urgent points before big points.

Another, more tangible but also more arguable proverb, says: If it's worth only 15 points, play tenuki.

When tenuki matters

Stronger players will lead weaker players around by the nose, choosing the agenda. This is because the weaker player will simply not know as much in several areas of the game.

For example, in life and death, a weaker player might be able to play tenuki, gaining sente, but instead answers, simply because the player does not understand the life and death of that shape.

In another example, a balanced corner situation (joseki) that is best left alone, may be immediately disturbed by the player who does not know he can tenuki, and make a more balanced move.


[1] To be precise, when he makes a move, not directly affecting the local position. A ladder breaker namely, can be played in the opposite corner, but it affects the local position. Ladder breakers are not considered as real tenuki.


Authors

Wiki master edit by Dieter



Path: AspectsOfSacrifice   · Prev: SacrificeThePlumForThePeach   · Next: Furikawari
Path: ForcingAndInitiative   · Prev: IntermediatePlays   · Next: MutualDamage

This is a copy of the living page "Tenuki" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.