Free Handicap

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Free handicap means unrestricted placement of the handicap stones. It is used less commonly than fixed handicap, where players place their handicap stones at the standard fixed hoshi (star-points).

It is sometimes called "Chinese handicap" or "French handicap" (even though few French players play this way).

AGA rules, Ing rules and New Zealand rules allow free placement of handicap stones. The KGS implementation of Chinese rules allows free handicaps.

Advantages

Drawback

The usual placement of the handicap stones, on the hoshi points, drives the Black player to the concept of thickness and influence. This concept is less instinctive than the concept of territory. Free placement allows Black to stick with territorial thinking, but he can also make an even more influence-oriented placement, like a diamond in the center, or two Great Walls.

[Diagram]

Example of an eight-stone handicap game with free placement

Black makes four shimaris.


Actually, as far as I know, the 'French handicap' is because the FFG uses (at least partially) Ing rules. However, the average French player doesn't know about it and still places his stones on the hoshi points.

Correction : the French Federation rules are the same as AGA rules, not Ing rules.


I thought French handicap did indeed involve free placement of the handicap stones, but you had to toss them on the goban and place them where they landed. This may be just another Belgian legend though... --Stefan


Ah ah! I knew that one, Stefan! But: as far as I know the free placement of handicap stones was called in my heyday the "Chinese" handicap! How come it has now become the French one??!? --Flux


I'm french, and when I learn the rules, I was told I could place my handicap stones where I would like to. But I never dare to do it during a tournement :) --Thorn


Though it uses Japanese rules, DGS also allows free handicap placement--in fact, EVERY game with a handicap is a free-handicap game. However, it seems that many players find it courteous to place their handicap stones on starpoints.

Quicksilvre


"So strike a blow for freedom in _your_ club room! "Free the Handicap 9!!"" -- Roy Langston


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This is a copy of the living page "Free Handicap" at Sensei's Library.
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