Make A Fist Before Striking

    Keywords: Strategy, Proverb

This proverb teaches us to attack from strong groups, not weak ones. Therefore, one should sometimes reinforce before attacking. Another way of looking at this: the reinforcing move has a value in itself (e.g. taking territory). If there is an attack as follow-up, it qualifies as a double-purpose move and can be sente.


The only example I can think of just now:

[Diagram]

Here, B1 aims at the marked invasion (besides taking the corner). If the invasion is played before Black 1, White can still dive into the corner.

[Diagram]

After B1, White might play something like W2 which gives good shape but is somewhat small.


Scartol: I thought of a fun way to say this the other day: Business before pressure.


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