Shape

Shape is a quality of a group of stones of the same color. This quality is highly influenced by the enemy stones present in the same area.

Table of contents Good shape [1] Characteristics: Objectives: Further reading Problems

Good shape ^[1]

"Good shape" uses local stones efficiently to maximize tactical advantage.

Characteristics:

• efficiency ( = degree of success / stones used)
• flexibility^[2]

Objectives:

• establish a connection
• make eyes
• increase liberties

So, stones have good shape when they are connected or will easily be connected, make an eye or will easily make an eye with a minimum number of stones, and maintain a certain amount of flexibility.

It must be noted that to talk about the quality of shapes divorced from the location of opposing stones is probably ill-advised, if not misleading. Also, there is often a dynamic notion to shape, while the static treatise may suffer from a superficial understanding.

Further reading

• A static treatise on shape
• Diagonal play reference shapes
• Four basic shapes - part of a book by Chinese professional Fan Hui
• Good shape according to Francis Roads
• Haengma
• Loved In Emerald / How good shape becomes bad shape
• Shapes And Connections
• Six good and six bad shapes
• The dynamic nature of shape
• 90 degree shapes
• Good shape and bad shape
• Shape Collection

Problems

• Shape Problems

Authors: Dieter, Stefan, HolIgor

[1]: Shape Up ! is the title of a book on shape and esp. Good Shape by Charles Matthews, published online on GoBase.

[2]: It may also be good shape to reduce the opponent's flexibility, even when you reduce your own.