[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]

StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About


Aliases (info)
Erasing
Erasure
Reduce
Reducing
ReducingMove
Reduction

Paths
AboutTheOpening
ElementaryMoves1
BigQuestionMark

Referenced by
AttackAndDefence
Probe
FrameworkTheory
3453Enclosure
MiddlegameJoseki
DonTTakeAwayYourO...
55Point
PlayOnThePointOfS...
3454Enclosure
KnightSMoveCap
TwoSpaceCap
Ryojimari
SectorLine
QARTS
BasicTechniquesOfGo
PlayingWhiteInHan...
KeshiIsWorthAsMuc...
ThrowingTheBoardA...
EarPoint
WhatActionsTheSto...

 

Keshi
    Keywords: MiddleGame, Strategy

Reduction (the Japanese term is keshi) means playing a move outside or on the apparent boundary of the opponent's framework.

In contrast with a deeper invasion, the idea is gently to reduce the size of the opponent's framework, limiting it to a manageable number of points, by playing near the edge of it.

In that sense it is less ambitious than an outright invasion, which may involve playing right in the heart of the framework in the search for eye space. However reduction is often less risky than an invasion, allowing the reducing group to run away in good order; and it can be just as effective.

There are some proverbs referring to reduction, such as

(StFiend: I have absolutely no idea what this means. Clarification?)

In my own games I systematically underestimate the value of reduction, and I go for risky invasions far too often. I guess I need to become more patient :-)

--Stefan


SL Pages on standard reduction techniques:



This is a copy of the living page "Keshi" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.