Kosumi

Kosumi  

Playing this way for Black may seem simple tactically, but from the point of view of shape that really isn't so. To discuss this intelligently one needs to be very familiar with a few diagonal play reference shapes

Miai to connect  

The kosumi is not yet physically connected but with locally alternating play it can not be cut: if White tries to cut at a, Black plays at b and becomes connected and vice versa. These two points are prime examples of miai.

Vital points  

The four marked points are all vital points of the kosumi shape. White can attack the kosumi at one of these points, when she is in a position to attack of course. See compromised diagonal. Also, ...

Kosumi  

... when White already has a stone here and is strong in the area, playing the kosumi is to be avoided.^[1]

Some examples of this shape in actual cases are at compromised diagonals and joseki.

Kosumi festival  

Example of kosumis in pro game given in "NHK Igo Koza" magazine, September 2005. According to commentator Oya Koichi, "An exemplary fuseki through . The vital point of seems reasonable, and is a vital point as well, is then unavoidable, then ...wait a minute, what is this, it's raining kosumis! There's something natural about this particular kosumi shower, and it's hard to explain the difference between these and the so-called weak player's diagonal which is supposed to be bad."

See also:

• the weak player's diagonal
• diagonal attachment - as inferior shape
• the rare atekomi tesuji
• dropping back with a diagonal play
• diagonal plays as non-standard
• contact play, diagonal away
• cross-cut, diagonal away

• Shusaku's kosumi
• Takemiya's kosumi.

For diagonal contact there is a whole diagonal attachment path.