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Board geography
    Keywords: Theory, Go term

Direction

When discussing moves[1]:

  • Up = towards the center
  • Down = towards the edge

Areas

The board is loosely (third/fourth/fifth line can be the border between them) divided into nine areas:

  • division
    • Four corners
    • Four sides[1]
    • The center
  • abbreviations
    • UL: upper left (corner or quarter)
    • TL: top left
    • UR: upper right
    • TR: top right
    • LL: lower left
    • BL: bottom left
    • LR: lower right
    • BR: bottom right
    • US: upper side
    • LS: lower side or left side (hence to be avoided)
    • RS: right side

Spots

When discussing theory most people use relative coordinates most of the time.

  • Relative coordinates have the form x-y, x and y both ranging from 1 to 10. The first point discussed has the smallest number first. So 3-5 point, not 5-3 point.
  • Absolute coordinates. A1 is the left closest corner point for black. T19 right farthest. Absolute coordinates have the form x99, where
    • x = Horizontal, a roman character A through T, I is skipped.
    • 99 = Vertical, one of the numbers 1 .. 19
  • Named points

[Diagram]
Named points


*

  • (Strict:) Starpoint = Hoshi = one of the nine marked points on the board
  • Tengen = the marked point in the center of the board
  • Hoshi without qualification is used for one of the four 4-4 points[01]
  • Starpoint without qualification is used for one of the four 4-10 points
  • Sansan even means 3-3
  • Twenty four other intersections - two of each of the following three in every corner - have their own, non-systematic names:
    • komoku = 3-4 point
    • mokuhazushi = 3-5 point
    • takamoku = 4-5 point
    • ... [02]

Height

  • very low = second line (not first)
  • no qualification = low = third line
  • high = fourth line
  • very high = fifth (not sixth)

Distance[2], [3]

  • contact = no space
  • no qualification = close (approach) = small (enclosure) = one-space
  • distant (approach) = large (enclosure) = two-space
  • very distant = three-space
  • pseudo = four spaces (or more?)

footnotes

[1] The upper side is the side closest to white as are the upper corners.

[2] The number of spaces refers to the horizontal distance, not the Manhattan distance. The Manhattan distance is used when talking about pace and the strength of connections.

[3] See also Joseki nomenclature - expert names


temporary comments & discussion (to be removed when resolved)

[01] Is this Japlish?

[02] Both the 2-2 point and 1-2 point have a very special role. Why don't they have a name of their own? Or do they? -- mAsterdam


mAsterdam



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