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Do not defend territories open on two sides
Path: GoProverbs   · Prev: MakeAFistBeforeStriking   · Next: AttachToTheStrongerStoneInAPincer
  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: Opening, Proverb

[Diagram]
Open on two sides

Territories which are open for attack at two sides are not territory. Therefore they should not be defended as such.



Imagine defending first one side of your 'territory', then the other. There will not be many points left inside, and in the meantime your opponent has solidified on the outside and will gain more than your points inside.

Territories which are open for attack from both sides are in practice those which are based on the fourth line. Remember that stones are there because you chose in the first place to play for influence rather than territory . If such a territory is under attack, you should accept the fact and use your influence either to counter-attack, or to press the invader into a low position.


[Diagram]
Premature enclosing play

From a nine-stone game in which I was White. In a position like this Black played B1 and announced 'a nice bit of territory'.



Perhaps B1 isn't so bad, but after W2 there isn't much edge territory to be proud of.

[Diagram]
Take care of the open skirt



I would have been more impressed if Black had played B1 and B3 first. These have an effect on the corner, threatening a. Black has an open skirt here on the right. Good sense in go means not playing for territory where your opponent can immediately jump into it.

[Diagram]
Continuation



White at W4 is natural to settle the corner. The good feeling for Black now is to play B7 as an attacking play, before coming back to deal with the cutting point at b. Again, Black shouldn't try to complete the territory on one side when White can simply slide in on the other side. White is likely to start the ko with W8. Black has three ko threats starting at c.

In any case Black is taking aggressive action to deal with the open skirts. This should be much better than trying to complete the open-skirted territory.

Charles Matthews



Path: GoProverbs   · Prev: MakeAFistBeforeStriking   · Next: AttachToTheStrongerStoneInAPincer
This is a copy of the living page "Do not defend territories open on two sides" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.