Angle Play

  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Shape, Go term
[Diagram]

Angle play

In relation to the marked white stone, B1 is an angle play. After the contact play, the angle play is the most direct way to play against a stone of the opponent's.

The shoulderhit, footsweep, and ago plays are all special cases of angle plays; see also compromised diagonal. The Japanese term kado is the closest equivalent.

[Diagram]

Push in reply



Normally White plays W1 or a in reply. This is likely to lead into a fight with two characteristics:

  1. White will become stronger;
  2. Black will find it hard to play tenuki.

For example Black at b will often cause a pushing battle. White has the initial choice of direction of play. The fights arising after contact and angle plays are often classified together as 'contact fights'. They are the most violent developments from a single stone, and very urgent.

Therefore angle plays must be used with caution: they don't by any means promise an advantage. See for example angle play after diagonal attachment, angle play attack.


This is a copy of the living page "Angle Play" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2011 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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