Aji keshi
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The Japanese go term aji keshi, which has been adopted into English, consists of the terms aji and keshi.
Aji keshi is a move that unnecessarily removes one's own good aji in the opponent's position. As an example, the exchange of for
in this diagram is a bad move. By playing this way, Black loses the chance later, when there might have appeared a black stone at a, to peep at
, followed by White at
, and Black b. This loss of potential is much more important than the meager one point of territory that Black gains.
Charles Matthews I'd like to amplify this.
You have first to imagine a follow-up play, such as . How did it get there? We can't be sure. It could for example be part of a complex fight spilling out from the top right corner.
This is one sequence that can follow. It is clearly good for Black, locally speaking.
This is another useful sequence for Black. In this case Black ends in sente. That could be an important difference, in heavy fighting.
So there seems to be a reason for White to play , looking to get sente by giving up this stone.
looks to connect Black up on the outside.
is indicated, to prevent that connection. But this leaves Black two good options: Black a White b with sente; or Black b White a Black c White d Black e for a squeeze and outside influence.
In summary, we have looked at just one black follow-up play round here - leading to at least two interesting variations from Black's perspective. The point I wish to make is that aji doesn't consist of a single sequence you wish to preserve as a future possibility. It is the whole complex of interesting things that might happen locally.
(sig) umm... What if white would play in 4 instead:
unkx80: Then happily seals White inside. If
captures, then Black gains sente.
Bill: Black can also play , nobi.
unkx80: I moved the discussion to unkx80 Go Terms Questions.
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