Play

Play is a term that may be used in a variety of context, sometimes with a very specific meaning.

In commentaries

‘Play’ is often used as a verb in game commentary, as in: "If you play here, then black will...". This usage is extended to refer to sequences of moves, as in: "Black should play this joseki, because...". From this meaning there is a variety of related terms, such as:

• Crude Play
• Good Play
• Overplay
• Safety play
• Trick play
• Optimal play
• Stubborn play
• Non-urgent play
• Playing style
• Orthodox play

Play is also sometimes used as a synonym for "move", as in: "The white play at 3-3".

In rules theory

In rules theory parlance, ‘play’ has a more specific meaning. In this context, ‘play’ is usually used to refer to a board play, i.e. a move played on the board, and is distinguished from the term ‘move’ in that a move can also be a pass. This usage is not entirely consistent throughout the literature however, and sometimes the usage is reversed (whereby a play can be a pass, but a move refers only to a play on the board). On Sensei's Library, the first convention is generally followed on pages related to rules.