Ryojimari

This is a simple opening pattern. and have been played for about 300 years without ever really being out of fashion (see regulation fuseki).

Before komi go it was generally considered that this type of opening was too simple from White's point of view - and that therefore White should challenge Black before is played. But it is seen in contemporary Go (for example Kato Masao-Cho Chikun 1988 Honinbo League).

Clearly enough, there are two types of ryojimari positions: those arising from parallel openings, and those such as the example arising from diagonal openings. In either case there is a superficial simplicity in the opening, because it is joseki-less. These openings, however, when played by pros, tend to make up for that because the fighting that arises becomes a technical exercise in middlegame joseki.

One can therefore break down the study of these openings to some extent:

• ryojimari sides, i.e. side patterns featuring two enclosures;
• use of middlegame joseki for reduction, invasion and probes around enclosures.

In real examples, these all fit together somehow. It is quite common to use ryojimari positions to make very basic problems about choice of big points and extensions.