Aji

    Keywords: Opening, MiddleGame, EndGame

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Chinese: 余味 (yúwèi); 味道 (wèidào)
Japanese: 味 (aji)
Korean: 뒷맛 (twitmat)

Table of contents

Definition

Aji means possibilities in a position.

Aji is a Japanese go term that has been adopted into English. One meaning of the ordinary Japanese word aji is taste, which lingers and it is this lingering feature that applies to what aji means in the context of Go.

Those possibilities are latent and cannot be used immediately, but might come to life if the situation changes. That is why aji is also often translated as potential.

There is an analogy which many people find apt. Aji is like a stone in your shoe when you are late. The stone hurts and you can't run as fast, but because you are late, you cannot stop to take it out.

Good and bad aji

Capturing stones with bad aji means that the opponent still has lots of ways to exploit the stones he lost in the exchange. It has often to do with the fact that your stones have bad shape. Doing so with good aji means the opposite.

Claiming territory with bad aji means that there are still many ways for your opponent to reduce or invade it. It has often to do with the fact that your surrounding position is thin. Doing so with good aji means the opposite.

If you have a lot of bad aji, it means that you are bound hand and foot, and cannot fight with full strength, because doing so might make the aji work. Good aji on the other hand, means that you can often do more than would otherwise be possible.

Removing the aji you have against your opponent is a bad idea, and is called ajikeshi. Removing your own aji is good, but often incurs a loss of momentum. Doing so at the right time is called honte.

Examples of aji


Discussion

  • See forum:Aji.

Ed Lee's version - please discuss it first

Aji can be described as unfinished business or funny business.

Aji is a Japanese go term that has been adopted into English. One meaning of the ordinary Japanese word aji is taste, which lingers and it is this lingering feature that applies to what aji means in the context of Go.

An exact definition of aji can be elusive. For example, the description "possibilities which are left in a position" is too general and broad because it includes any legal move in any position. According to this, any empty corner, side, or even an empty board at the start of a game is full of aji, which is not the intended meaning or usage of the term. This description also covers moves such as a ko threat, which is not aji either.

As another example, aji is sometimes translated as "potential", which is also unsatisfactory because this may be confused with "potential territory" or development.

There is an analogy which some people find apt. Aji is like a stone in your shoe when you are late. The stone hurts and you cannot run as fast, but because you are late, you cannot stop to take it out. This analogy captures the annoying aspect of aji.

Good and bad aji

Often, bad aji means your stones have bad shape. If you have a lot of bad aji, it means you are bound hand and foot, and cannot fight with full strength, because doing so might make the aji work for your opponent. Good aji, on the other hand, usually means your stones have good shape and little or no weakness.

Removing the aji you have against your opponent is a bad idea, and is called ajikeshi. Removing your own bad aji is good, but could incur a loss of momentum; doing so at the right time is an example of honte.

Examples of usage

  • "There is some aji here" means "There is some funny business here"
  • "The aji is bad here for White" means "There is some funny business here for Black to exploit"
  • "The aji is very bad here for White" means "There is a lot of funny business here for Black to exploit"
  • "This move removes all of White's bad aji here" means "This move removes all of White's weaknesses here"
  • "I just want to leave some aji here" means "I just want to leave some unfinished business here to exploit later"
  • "You want good aji here" means "You do not want to leave any funny business here for your opponent to exploit"

See also


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