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Vital Point
Keywords: Life & Death, Tactics, Go term
The vital point (Japanese 急所, kyuusho) of a group is the point where you want to play in order to assure life for that group. The word "vital" has Latin roots meaning "life". There are also vital points for making shape, for connecting, sabaki, etc. Often the vital point for one player is a vital point for the other, as well. Example 1
The vital point of this white group is a. You can explore nakade to find out more about vital points.
Bob Myers: I've never seen an eye-making move like the one above referred to as vital point. The classic example of vital point that I am aware of is a in this shape example . Vital point is used, of course, in life-and-death, but to indicate a point that is key to the rest of the solution.
Example 2
From Jowa, Powerful Fighter (Gohwan Jowa) by Takagi Shoichi, p. 60. SnotNose: I've seen the term "vital point" used to refer to a point on the board that has nothing to do with life and death but has high strategic importance. I wonder if this is a mistranslation or another meaning. The term "key strategic point" would be synonomous with the sense I'm talking about. It is using another definition of "vital", namely "important" rather than "life giving." I can't provide any examples right now but I know there is at least one reference in TournamentGo1992 and I think I've seen this usage elsewhere too. Bill: Vital point is by no means restricted to life and death. John Power would not mistranslate the term. Would you post the example? Thanks. :-) SnotNose: Below are examples from TournamentGo1992, page 152 (left column) and page 154 (right column). They are taken from the game record and commentary from the game Otake Hideo (White) vs Kobayashi Koichi (Black), 30 September and 1 October 1992, the third game of the 17th Meijin Title. [1]
Takemiya is quoted as saying "White should play...at
Takemiya is quoted as saying "Black 61 (
SnotNose: Since neither Bill: Very interesting. Thanks. :-) John F. I suspect the original Japanese was something like tennouzan here. Bill: Oh, dear! How disappointing, if so. OTOH, I can see how John Power would shy away from Focal Point. Further readingAuthors
[1] I hope I am permitted to post this material for the purposes of illustrating the use of the term "vital point." If not, I hope, at least, it can stay up long enough for Bill to see. If it must go, I can replace it with an example that is made up. Bill: I think that this falls under the Fair Use doctrine of copyright, and have been freely posting such examples. This is a copy of the living page "Vital Point" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |