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Aliases (info)
AvoidBeingSealedIn
DonTLetYourGroups...

Paths
Mistake
GeneralOpeningPri...

Referenced by
LibertyIntroductory
AttackAndDefence
AboutInfluence
WhyDonTWeOpenAtTe...
Strategy
InvasionsOnTheSide
44PointStaircaseJ...
RunningFightExample2
TheABCSOfAttackAn...
GettingAhead
36PointPincers
ExtendingOnThirdO...
SakeBottleShape
LearningJosekiLos...
35103Enclosure
35PointLowApproac...
34PointDistantLow...
34PointHighApproa...
SeenInAShusakuGame
44PointLowApproac...

 

Shut in
Path: GeneralOpeningPrinciples   · Prev: CornersThenSidesThenCenter   · Next: PlayUrgentMovesBeforeBigMoves
Path: Mistake   · Prev: SafetyPlay   · Next: Slack

  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Strategy

Don't let your groups get shut in.

Well, don't. A surrounded group will often have to make defensive plays inside the group, losing points. In the endgame, such a group will suffer more from sente moves against it than if it were connected to the outside.

Of course, as the game progresses, all groups are surrounded. Which encirclement spells danger and which not, comes through experience and intuition.

Dieter


Why not?

Weak groups, and even groups that will not die, should jump out into the centre while they can, assuming there is no good way to develop or connect along the sides. Reasons:

  1. This is a way to gain some liberties
  2. This is a way to connect to the centre, where there are several directions in which to run
  3. This gives a chance to connect to friendly groups
  4. This is a way to prevent the opponent gaining too much central influence
  5. Once the group is more settled, there may be opportunities to attack the surrounding groups
  6. If you are shut in and live, you normally find the opponent's endgame plays are sente, meaning the territory in the group is small.

There is a related proverb: "jump out once and then make eyes".

Charles Matthews



Path: GeneralOpeningPrinciples   · Prev: CornersThenSidesThenCenter   · Next: PlayUrgentMovesBeforeBigMoves
Path: Mistake   · Prev: SafetyPlay   · Next: Slack

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