Pincer

An example of a pincer  

In a corner opening, in response to the kakari of , or a nearby move is called a pincer, because it “pincers” the approaching stone from the other side. The pincer is an attack on , and prevents it from forming an ideal base.

Overview

All types of pincers are indexed by the pincer path.

The article Pincer Nomenclature explains the terminology for pincers (“low” v. “high”, “n-space”) and provides links to many josekis arising from pincers.

There are three common sources of pincers: the 3-4 point, the 4-4 point, the 3-5 point when the approach is at 4-3. There would be a certain logic in treating 4-4 point double kakari variations as pincers. Uncommon pincers are:

• 3-3 point pincers.
• 3-5 point 3-3 approach pincer.
• 3-5 point high approach pincer.
• 4-5 point pincers.
• the missing pincer: two-space low pincer after 3-4, high approach.
• 3-6 point pincers: mostly seen in amateur go.
• zero-space pincers: up close and personal.

Former opening  

prevented Black from making an enclosure, and then prevented White from making a base on the third line. White would like to extend at least to . A three-space pincer at a would allow White to extend to b, which is a cramped short extension. White now typically played in an open corner, satisfied with having prevented a black enclosure.

Later, people realized that Black need not hurry to attack . If Black played in an open corner and White extended from to make a base, Black could make an enclosure in the other corner, which was better. Even later, people realized that White did not have to hurry to prevent Black’s enclosure, but could play in the top left corner in a way that worked with a later kakari at . If Black made an enclosure, White could play first in a third corner. Such realizations were the beginning of fuseki theory.

A pincer  

As a novice, I only feel comfortable making a pincer move when the group that my opponent is attacking is fairly strong, as this diagram shows. Otherwise I prefer to make an extension or attachment.

author: FCS

I took the liberty of rearranging your stones a little, to make it look more conventional.

--HolIgor

Note that here is actually a very bad move; this move hardly improves on passing because the stone is so weak.

Going back to the first diagram, remember that White also has a one-stone group left. It will be almost automatic that either the corner or the pincer stone becomes strong while White is settling her own stone.

-- AndreEngels

Bob Myers: This example should probably not be here on the pincer page because it’s not really a pincer. It’s just an example of punishing bad play.

unkx80: I think so too. I tend to view as an extension rather than a pincer.

PJT: Fair enough for it to be here in discussion, as others may think the same way, but it does not belong in the main text.