![]() StartingPoints Aliases (info) Paths Referenced by
|
Focal point
Path: GeneralOpeningPrinciples · Prev: YourOpponentSGoodMoveIsYourGoodMove · Next: DoNotCreateTwoWeakGroups
Keywords: Strategy
The largest point is at the boundary of your moyo and the opponent's moyoPoints 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.
The circle point seems to be the boundary of two potential moyos. The squares are likely invasion points.
White's response at 2 seems passive. But what is better?
Again, Black's response at seems passive.
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. 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. ![]() |