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InvasionItinerary

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Keshi
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Keshi Is Worth As Much As An Invasion
Path: GoProverbs   · Prev: PlayKikashiBeforeLiving   · Next: DontAttachWhenAttacking
Path: InvasionItinerary   · Prev: KeshiAndUchikomiReductionAndInvasionInGo   · Next: FourthLineInvasionWithOneSpaceOnBothSides

    Keywords: Problem

A keshi play, or "erasure", is a move made on the edge of an opponent's framework (moyo) or just outside it. The idea is to allow him some territory, but not that much. Typical keshis are the shoulder hit, the cap (boshi) and a play on the border of a central moyo.

An erasing move is often the smart choice for several reasons:

  • First, it is less risky than an invasion, especially when you don't have support in the area.
  • Second, while an invasion often permits the opponent to get outside thickness in exchange for losing some territory, a keshi move can help to build influence or contribute to a central moyo while keeping the opponent's area to manageable proportions. Look at it this way: if your keshi move reduces the enemy position by 7 points and gives you the chance to make central territory of about 8 points, then it is worth 15 points, which I'm sure you'll agree is not too shabby!
  • Third, many keshi moves such as the shoulder hit and boshi have more severe potential follow-ups, should opportunity arise.
  • Finally, it's often quite amazing just how much an enemy territory can be reduced by keshi.

I hope this helps :-) Tamsin (BGA 2 kyu)


(moved from TwoEyesCanDie: )

Jan de Wit: I've read somewhere (not on this site) that you need about twenty points of open space for an invasion to succeed. Is that true?

Stefan: It's among the proverbs on Jan van der Steen's site, as follows: "To invade, need 20 points in open area; otherwise, keshi is best." -- Yang Yilun, 7 dan pro



Path: GoProverbs   · Prev: PlayKikashiBeforeLiving   · Next: DontAttachWhenAttacking
Path: InvasionItinerary   · Prev: KeshiAndUchikomiReductionAndInvasionInGo   · Next: FourthLineInvasionWithOneSpaceOnBothSides

This is a copy of the living page "Keshi Is Worth As Much As An Invasion" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.