Press

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    Keywords: Joseki
[Diagram]

Press joseki

Chinese: 飞压 (fei1 ya1)
Japanese:
Korean:

B1 here aims to press White to the third line, creating a position in which White can avoid being low only with some tactical trouble. This is joseki, in which some lines are quite simple but others definitely not.

Since B1 leads into a pushing battle, tenuki will be costly for both sides in terms of influence. See 3-5 point low approach, press, tenuki variations.

[Diagram]

Cutting through

This way of cutting through the pressing play is considered to be an overplay, in normal circumstances. It is sometimes playable in conditions when White is strong locally. But in general White has quite a hard time taking care of the corner. (It can end up as a carpenter's square.) Note the windmill pattern.


The press is for the most part too simple-minded a play to be seen often in pro games. It also gives the opponent territory early on, which is something about which strong players feel a basic reluctance.

It certainly occurs in combination with other stones, in two ways:

  1. If White has played a pincer on the top side.
  2. If White has extended along the left side without preparation.
[Diagram]

Immediate extension is questionable.

It was a traditional teaching that in this case W1 isn't good because B2 would press White unacceptably low.

There is probably much truth still in that. White does better to play at 2, before 1; or play a pincer in the top left.

[Diagram]

White resists being pressed down

Nothing is ever quite that simple, though. White can try fighting this way, making W1 work as part of the overall position.

[Diagram]

Shoulderhit

Therefore in games from the early Edo period, when these matters were still being worked out, you see B2 here, anticipating the press at a.

[Diagram]

Extend on the fourth line

These days, one is just as likely to see the extension on the fourth line with W1. Then Black at a to press has to be seen in conjunction with Black at b - which might be good here, but the timing has to be worked out.


See also:


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This is a copy of the living page "Press" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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