Introduction to the 'press' tactic

  Difficulty: Intermediate   Keywords: Tactics

Temporarily closed for repairs

Bill: It has been a long time since I did anything with this page, and I do not like the fact that it and its companion appear with the current title in the Beginners section. It sounds like there is such a thing as a press that is generally known as such, rather than the fact that it is a term of convenience to talk about some features of certain contact plays. So I am thinking of making this and its companion subpages of another page to hide the terms from general view.

The most useful play in go

Bill Spight:

The most useful play in go is one that most experienced beginners pick up unconsciously. It is not necessarily a big play, but it is a workhorse. It occurs frequently[1], in all phases of the game, from the opening to the endgame. It does not even have a name, but its variants have names. For convenience I call it the press.

Now, the word "press" is already used for a different play, but that's all right, because if you talk about it in a game, you won't call it a "press", but will use the name of one of its variants instead.

If you are a new go player, learning about the press will give you a leg up. It is a simple play, but learning the reasons for playing it will help you understand some ideas about the game.

[Diagram]

The Press

This is the press. The stone played in the press (B1) is adjacent to one friendly stone (B), one enemy stone (W), and two empty points at right angles.

What does the press do?

First, the press takes away one liberty from the enemy stone (along with any stones it is firmly connected to). It may even capture it (or them). If that stone is not yet alive, it weakens it.

Second, the press typically adds one liberty to the friendly stone.

[Diagram]

Before

Before the press, B has a liberty at a. Afterwards it has two liberties at the b points. The press adds one liberty to it unless one of the b points is already one of its liberties through the stones connected to it. If B is not yet alive, the press typically strengthens it. It may even give it life.

Third, the press exerts influence on the adjacent empty points, as a rule.

[Diagram]

The Press

Whether B1 exerts any influence, and how much, depends upon the surroundings. Here I shall talk about the typical case.

B1 exerts the greatest influence upon a. Typically it cuts off W from it. It may even make it territory.

B1 typically exerts less influence upon b. If c is empty, too, we may get the following sequence of play:

[Diagram]

Cut

After W2, B3 cuts. We do not know the effect of the cut without seeing the surroundings, but typically it separates W and W2, weakening both.

In summary, the press typically weakens the enemy stone, strengthens the friendly stone, and exerts influence on empty points. That is why it is such a workhorse. These are basic aims in go. Even if it does not accomplish all of these aims, it will usually accomplish one or more of them. Typically it will accomplish more than one of these aims. In general you should try to make multi-purpose plays.

Examples

Here I give ten examples from top level play.

[Diagram]

Example 1, Block

This example comes from a game between Dosaku, White, and Doetsu.

This variant of the press is called a block. Feel the power of this play. It strengthens WC and puts pressure on BC. In addition, its influence extends beyond the adjacent points and works with WS.

[Diagram]

Example 2, Push

Later in the same game.

B1 is a variant of the press called a push, as is B3, for obvious reasons.

The push is often defensive in nature. Here B1 and B3 strengthen BC and, with B5, make territory in the corner.

[Diagram]

Example 3, Blocks

Later in the same game.

The blocks, B1 and B3, work with the BC stones to create a framework. To appreciate the power of B3, compare it with a White play on that point (next diagram).

[Diagram]

Example 4, Turn

W1 is a variant of the press called a turn. It is very big here, weakening the BC stones severely while working beautifully with all the White stones on the right side.

[Diagram]

Example 5, Crawl

Later in the same game.

B1 is a variant of the press called a crawl, again, for obvious reasons. Here it takes away a little bit of potential White territory on the side, but mainly it produces a weakness for White, the cutting point at a.

[Diagram]

Example 6, Block

Later in the same game.

W1 strengthens WC. Together they radiate influence towards the center, working with the other White stones facing the center.

[Diagram]

Example 7, Atari

The following examples (7 - 10) come from a famous game between Shusai (White) and Go Seigen.

W1 has characteristics of the block, but its most salient feature is that it threatens to capture BC. So we just call it an atari.

(Sebastian) Even though it forms an empty triangle it is a good move because it retains sente for White.



[Diagram]

Example 8, De

W1 pushes into Black's position. Such a play is called a de. With a de the main influence is forward, in this case at B2.

Note that if Black had the move he could seal territory off with a block at B1.

[Diagram]

Example 9, Block

W1 blocks against Black's hane, BC, and threatens to take the stone. B2 saves it.

If White ignored the hane, Black could play a crawl at B1.

[Diagram]

Example 10, Block

B1 blocks, putting some pressure on WC and preventing a de at W1.

See also Introduction to the 'touch' tactic


[1]

Between 10% and 15% of the time, or so.


This is a copy of the living page "Introduction to the 'press' tactic" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2007 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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