![]() StartingPoints Aliases (info) Paths Referenced by Homepages
|
Basic Instinct
Path: DiagonalAttachmentPath · Prev: 44PointLowApproachDiagonalContactThenPincer · Next: JosekiAsASourceOfBadHabits Path: StonesWalkingPath · Prev: RunningFight · Next: Magari
Keywords: MiddleGame
Go is a game of tactics and strategy. There are, however some basic techniques that in itself require no reading or positional judgment, but which make a fundamental part of good play. We will list these techniques here, and call them basic instincts. Below, we will elaborate them further or refer to other pages where they are elaborated.
How to use your Basic InstinctIn all cases, the suggested move is the first move one should think of. They are natural moves. If this move seems to bring no bad result, then it is highly probable that this is the best move. Of course, there are always exceptions, but one should not consider other options first! Only if investigation of the Basic Instinct shows a bad result, then other possibilities can be explored. See Basic Instinct Counterexample. AdvantagesThe advantage of knowing the Basic Instinct is twofold:
From an atari, extend
"Of course I extend when given atari!" Well, if you're going to extend, you shouldn't have considered other possibilities. Reasons:
Exceptions:
Answer the tsuke with a hane
Tsuke means stone played next to an opponent stone, while disconnected from any friendly stone. The hane blocks it, bending around it. Reasons:
Exceptions:
See RespondToAttachmentWithHane Hane at the head of two stones
Reasons:
Exceptions:
Stretch from a kosumi-tsuke
Reasons
Exceptions
Block the angle play
Sometimes it is better to push and cut (White a - Black b, White c). Connect against a peep
Reasons
Exceptions
See also Even A Moron Connects Against A Peep Block the thrust
Hikaru79: This seems to me to be the most controversial one... The two dangerous cutting points left by this
Niklaus: This position only occurs if for some reason (for example ignoring a ko threat) basic instinct 6 is not followed.
However,
Hikaru79: Yes, I agree with most of what you are saying, but that's because this example is given in complete isolation of the rest of the board. I think often I would rather play the "much worse diagram" and at least choose which side I'm throwing away rather than let my opponent choose for me... or maybe that's the coward in me talking ;)[9] Stretch from a bump
Reasons
Exceptions
[9] TJ: Basic instinct is what should go through your mind first...I think all examples are just "minimalist". At a thrust, you should think about blocking first, because it's usually correct. Imagine the black stones extended just a bit, even, say one stone on either side, with a one point gap between...if white thrusts in, black usually wants to block to avoid a nail being driven through his wall. The minimalism of this page is good for seeing basic shapes to trigger a basic instinctual thought, I think, so I don't propose making another diagram, though. Re-reading Kageyama. He has a similar example, and this page came back to my mind. He says to block the thrust, period. You end up better after the cut. Maybe there are times when you shouldn't, but as one of his fundamentals, apparently don't over-think it and use, yes...your Basic Instinct. Someone should do a WikiMasterEdit, methinks, if we're done.:) Charles Blocking is played 75% of the time, when I checked. Good enough: it's rarely going to be such a bad play.
An answer like
Fhayashi: I think what it boils down to is that as long as you block, both black and white end up at least temporarily separated. If you don't block, white is connected and black is not. Authors: Path: DiagonalAttachmentPath · Prev: 44PointLowApproachDiagonalContactThenPincer · Next: JosekiAsASourceOfBadHabits Path: StonesWalkingPath · Prev: RunningFight · Next: Magari This is a copy of the living page "Basic Instinct" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |