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Pincer
Slack
HighVsLowPincer
NamingExtensionsJ...
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PseudoPincer
PGB31
UnderstandingJose...
IntermediateDistance
HowBQM26Appeared
PreBQM32

 

Pincer Nomenclature
Path: PincerPath   · Prev: Pincer   · Next: 44PointLowApproachOneSpaceLowPincer
    Keywords: Joseki, Go term

The idea of a pincer (hasami) is to obstruct a clear two-space extension.

There are six possible pincer points against an approach.

[Diagram]
The six pincers

Black makes a pincer against the marked white stone by playing next at one out of a to f.



Here a, c and e are called low pincers, because they employ the third line. And b, d and f are called high pincers.

Many considerations are involved in choosing between a high vs low pincer. Sometimes there are several equally correct choices of pincer.

In this position all six pincers are seen in professional games (though the one at c is out of fashion). The same is true when Black has the 4-4 point and White approaches (at 6-3): with all pincers correspondingly moved one to the right, of course.


When White approaches 3-4 at 5-4 some of low pincers are rare (see missing pincer). Discussion there suggests a new concept of quasi-pincer.


The close pincers are a and b. These are the most forceful. That doesn't mean that they are the best, or most common. It depends how the fighting will proceed - a closer pincer may be counter-attacked more easily by a counter-pincer[1].

The close pincers are called one-space low (high) pincers (for example the 4-4 point low approach one-space low pincer). And so on with the two-space and three-space pincers, the number referring to the gap (the number of clear lines).

For many years the two-space high pincer (in Japanese, nikentakabasami) was the favoured pincer of professionals in the position shown; but that judgement no longer has the same standing.

A four-space pincer would be a pseudo-pincer.


[1]

There are two distinct usages for 'counter-pincer'.

[Diagram]
Counter-pincer sense (1)

Here B5 is called a counter-pincer, looking at its effect on W2.


[Diagram]
Counter-pincer sense (2)

Here B3 is called a counter-pincer, for its effect on WC.

Charles Matthews



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