Table shape
The table shape is a shape of four stones, in its abstract form looking like this:
Origin of the term
The term was coined by Charles Matthews in his book Shape up. There doesn't seem to be a designated name for the shape in any of the oriental languages. "Table shape" has since been widely adopted in the western world.
Application and examples
The table shape is seen in close encounters with enemy stones, typically aiming to stay connected while also providing some eye potential. It's not as firm as the bamboo joint which has stronger connectivity. Its eye potential can be derived from its similarity to the mouth shape.
Here White has surrounded Black. If the squared stone were at a instead, forming a bamboo, there would be a cut at b. In this shape, such a cut is caught in a net.
From the Shinogi page we take this example, where ,
and
create a double table shape. In both cases the moves aim to stay connected, while they also create eye potential.
creates a table shape. The development of the corner is more efficient than what a bamboo would achieve.
Weakness
Good shape though it is, the table shape does have some vulnerabilities if there are stones of the opposite color nearby. In this diagram Black might feel that the two white groups have been separated. Note that the marked stones form a table shape:
lives in the corner - actually there is a ko (see tripod group, "extra leg" section). White can now continue pressuring Black with