Basic strategies list
Difficulty: Intermediate Keywords: Strategy
The most basic strategies include for example:
- Use your own stones efficiently.
- Use your own stones to develop frameworks first in the corners, then along the edges, then in the centre.
- Keep your own stones connected.
- Keep your opponent's stones disconnected.
- seal in your opponent's stones.
- Don't get sealed in yourself.
- Keep your own groups alive by ensuring they have space for two eyes, by connecting them to other live groups, or by using them to kill your opponent's groups.
- That is, try to avoid forming weak groups.
- kill your opponent's groups by surrounding them and preventing them from forming two eyes.
- reduce or invade your opponent's frameworks.
- Make your own groups strong before attacking your opponent's groups.
- Use your own stones to build either territory or influence.
- Place your own stones to form good shape.
- Prevent your opponent's stones from forming good shape.
- Maintain the initiative.
- Make moves that serve several independent purposes (see double-purpose move).
- Be independent: don't just respond to your opponent's threats; make your own threats instead (see following the opponent around).
- Accept local losses if you gain some compensation (see tenuki is always an option).
- Regularly estimate the score.
- Play aggressively when behind, safely when ahead (rich men don't pick fights).
- Play moves in the "right" order, which may mean prioritising the above goals (path on sequencing questions).