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Aliases (info)
FocalPlay
FocalPlays
JunctionLine

Paths
GeneralOpeningPri...
AllAboutInfluence

Referenced by
DoublePurposePlays
FrameworkTheory
YourOpponentSGood...
StrongGroups
PushingBattle
UseOfKikashiToBui...
MutualDamageInThe...
HolIgorStrugglesW...
35PointHighApproach
FusekiAdviceThatH...
BlackSheepRengo2003
ClosedSideClosedMind
PushingBattlesInJ...
UsingJapaneseTerm...
Game33
EndUpInTheCenter
ChineseGoTerms
TG53AfterBlack40
BQM33
BQM60

 

Focal point
Path: GeneralOpeningPrinciples   · Prev: YourOpponentSGoodMoveIsYourGoodMove   · Next: DoNotCreateTwoWeakGroups
    Keywords: Strategy

The largest point is at the boundary of your moyo and the opponent's moyo

Points of this type are often called focal points.[1] The idea is that on the boundary of Black's framework and White's framework, a play by Black will improve Black's framework and at the same time reduce or threaten White's framework.

Therefore these focal points are big points because they are double-purpose plays. They are often played in the opening as secondary big points (and are frequently the solution to whole-board problems with quiet positions).


See StrongGroups for an example and discussion.


The above definition seems to make sense. However an example would demonstrate the concept.

Here is my demonstration attempt. Probably a poor example, since I am a weak player. It is offerred so some stronger player can correct or update it.

The example also seems artifical. A good example from a real game would be better.

[Diagram]
Starting Position

The circle point seems to be the boundary of two potential moyos. The squares are likely invasion points.


[Diagram]
If Black moves first

White's response at 2 seems passive. But what is better?


[Diagram]
If White moves first

Again, Black's response at seems passive.



[Diagram]
Go Seigen - Inoue Kohei



Game played 1927-11-25: Go Seigen as Black played at 1 in reply to the marked white stone blocking off the side. This is considered both excellent timing, and a clear-sighted focal play (Black has no need to invade on the right).

Quite a move for a thirteen-year-old to come up with. Go Seigen was still in China at the time.


[1] Comment: That seems strange to me. There is nothing focal about such points. They are not at any focus, but at the frontier between moyos. I would call them frontier points or boundary points.
-- Bill

Charles Actually, as I now realise, such parts of the board should have many sector lines converging on them; in that sense they are focal or nodal.


Charles This terminology in English goes back a number of decades. Any Japanese or other term?

Bill: I usually see them referred to as tennozan, the name of a famous hill, which is also used to indicate a/the strategic point.

unkx80: I suspect tennozan is 天王山. =)

Bill: Yes. Thanks for the characters. :-)

unkx80: Then it is written exactly the same way in Chinese. =P



Path: GeneralOpeningPrinciples   · Prev: YourOpponentSGoodMoveIsYourGoodMove   · Next: DoNotCreateTwoWeakGroups
This is a copy of the living page "Focal point" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.