There Is No Territory In The Center
There is no territory in the centre
This proverb serves to make players aware of the fact that endgame plays in the corner and at the side are usually larger than the plays available in the centre. A move in the centre often looks larger than it really is.
Applying this proverb, I found myself losing games, because my opponent made a lot of points in the centre that I did not count, because, after all there is no territory in the centre !
There is territory in the centre. If your opponent has a lot of influence in the centre, I think we have to add something extra to his score, not only because this influence affects the neighbouring groups, but also because there is some territory for him to form in that area.
Classical example of center versus side territory
There is a Chinese Go proverb that translates into:
Corner is gold, Edge is silver, center is grass
It means that territory in the corner is the easiest to surround, followed by the edge, and the center is the hardest place to get territory. Thus I believe that the proverb
There is no territory in the center
means the same thing. For the Chinese proverb, it refers to the moves made in the opening. So if I have guessed correctly, the English proverb should refer also to the opening moves...
However, I will admit that this proverb will come in handy in the early to middle stages of the endgame. Books written by professional players often comment that big endgame moves are usually found in the edge or corner. Yet, this is not as though there is really no territory in the center in the most literal sense, and thus counting is necessary.
Remember that a proverb is only a general guide, it is never 100% correct. It is important to know when to use it, and when not to. Do not apply a proverb blindly.
--unkx80
Sometimes there is a little territory in the center
The version I have always heard (at times to my detriment) is "The center is just dame". - TimBrent
Shouldn't someone go ask Takemiya Masaki if there's any territory in the center? TB, who's not Tim Brent.
dnerra: Well, a proverb is a proverb, and a truth is a truth. I've always more or less automatically tried to translate a proverb into something more meaningful. Examples:
- "There is no territory in the center." means "Most amateurs overestimate the territorial value of center moves."
- "If there are less than 15 stones in danger, play tenuki." means: "Well, if a group of you is in danger, and it is a burden to defend it, and it is less than 10 stones, than you should at least consider for a moment whether it might be better to surrender it, maybe trying to get influence while the opponent is busy capturing it."
- "Ikken tobi is never wrong." means: "If you have a weak stone, and you have to run away, the default move you consider is an ikken tobi. But of course look for special circumstance which might favor other moves."
Anyone to continue the list? :-)