Divide and conquer

In go terms, a strategy based on keeping the opponent from connecting groups together. There is always some value in preventing the connection of weak groups.

Common aspects of divide and conquer play:

• White in handicap games plays to disconnect Black's handicap stones, perhaps a long time before attacking them.
• Black in high-handicap games ought to keep the white groups separate on principle, to get value from overall thickness.
• Attach high value to saving cutting stones, even though that may involve some heavy play.

See also: cut and connect