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.
In 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.
The advantage of knowing the Basic Instinct is twofold:
"Of course I extend when given atari!" Well, if you're going to extend, you shouldn't have considered other possibilities.
aLegendWai: It is controversial. It appears to tell beginners every stone is usually valuable. In real game, it is not. Pro players often discard their stones. See sacrifice tactics.
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Tsuke means stone played next to an opponent stone, while disconnected from any friendly stone. The hane blocks it, bending around it.
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See RespondToAttachmentWithHane
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strengthens White's stone and weakens Black's. It also blocks Black's approach to the area below. The next diagrams show related positions.
Sometimes it is better to push and cut (White a - Black b, White c).
Peep -> connect
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See also Even A Moron Connects Against A Peep
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More at Block the thrust
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