![]() StartingPoints Paths Referenced by Homepages
|
Joseki
Difficulty: Advanced
Keywords: Joseki
A Meijin needs no joseki - Proverb Joseki means 'settled stones'[1] and is in general a sequence of moves which lead to what is normally considered as a fair outcome (considering the starting position and who ends with sente), for both players. Many joseki exist, some of which are played very often, others only in special circumstances. Ishida Yoshio in the foreword to the Dictionary of Basic Joseki wrote:
On the other hand the modern world of professional go is spread over China, Japan, Korea (see jungsuk) and Taiwan. It is not true to say that a sequence recognised in one group of pros will have the same status in another country. Probably on a time scale of a decade opinions do come closer together, but matters are more complicated now than for Ishida, writing in the early 1970s. Although the most commonly understood meaning is a standard way of playing in a corner, there are also joseki for side patterns, enclosures, invasions and so on. Another, more technological way of talking about joseki is as well-tested 'modules' (see modular thinking). This has the advantage of getting away from corner sequences, as such, and of raising the issue of how joseki fit in with the whole board position and your direction of play. Before assuming that intense study of joseki will improve your level, please note the proverb learning joseki loses two stones strength. Here is a classified list of some joseki-related pages currently on SL. If you are an expert this will be the quickest way to find the variation you are seeking. Anyone else should probably use the individual pages (4-4 point Josekis and so on) which display diagrams. 4-4 point Josekis (covered in Ishida volume 3):
4-4 point low approach, diagonal contact then pincer, 4-4 point staircase joseki, 4-4 point low approach diagonal (the Takemiya kosumi), kosumitsuke joseki, double kakari, 4-4 point very low approach. 4-4 point joseki bad follow-up. BQM30, BQM31, BQM41, BQM72, BQM78.
3-3 point Josekis (covered in Ishida volume 3): 3-5 point Josekis (covered in Ishida volume 2):
4-5 point Josekis (covered in Ishida volume 3): Joseki after non-standard opening moves Invasion Joseki? (not already covered above) General Joseki discussion: There are also some which describe how not to play josekis. Call them anti-josekis if you want: Joseki Questions:
References:
[1] This is an awkward translation. Decided is a better word than settled, I think. Generally agreed upon sequences of play is more like it. -- Bill Spight This is a copy of the living page "Joseki" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |