High and low moves

  Difficulty: Beginner  

High And Low Moves

The concept of High and Low moves is fundamental to Go Strategy.

At least one proverb refers to this concept: "High move (4th line) for influence, low move (3rd line) for territory"

[Diagram]

Introduction

Introduction

According to traditionally accepted views, the corners and sides of the board earn the most territory. The center is generally thought to earn the least.

This is often demonstrated to the beginner with something like this:

Black makes 1 point with 2 stones. White spends 3 stones on the side, and 4 stones in the center for the same point.


High moves and low moves

Already we see that the high groups do not earn as much territory as the low groups. We know we should build territory in the corners and sides, but the question is, how high to build?

[Diagram]

Third Line

The Third Line

On a 19 by 19 board, the commonly accepted answer is that the third line is easiest to earn territory on.

In this diagram, Black has about 12 points of territory along the left side.

[Diagram]

Fourth Line

The Fourth Line

But often we see people play along the fourth line.

In this common joseki, White plays W6 on the fourth line.

W6 is not a move which creates territory. W6 faces the center and not the side. B3 faces the side, so we expect B3 to earn the territory along the side.

Let's see what happens ...

[Diagram]

Fourth Line - The Joseki continues

The Third Line, continued

Black "walks" along the third line, as Kageyama would say, with White "walking" along the fourth. Black earns the side territory, and white gets influence in the center.

Stronger players please note that the standard push at a by Black has been omitted for simplicity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, moves along the third line are called low. Moves along the fourth line are called high.

Low moves earn territory. High moves earn influence.


Why would I want influence?

The inquisitive novice might ask, "Why would I want influence? Only territory is counted at the end of the game!" Of course, the answer is as simple as go itself: At the end of the game, all influence which can be converted into territory, will be.

DJ: I am afraid the wording of this last paragraph could be misleading: it could give the wrong idea that influence or thickness (mind you, the two concept are connected but they have not the same meaning) can be directly converted in territory. This is not so, see Don't use thickness to make territory.
To put it in a nutshell, influence (or thickness) should be used to attack your opponent, pushing him toward your strength, keeping her busy trying to escape or live small, and naturally making territory elsewhere, i.e. from the direction you're attacking. I like the rest of the page, though.

Rakshasa: Why the "Introduction" part? There is already a page somewhere about the corner/side/center thing. And it isn't related to this page IMO. The fourth line example you gave, white 6 isn't a move to make territory on the side, not even if it was on the 3rd line. Black is the only one who it makes sense for to "choose" between 3rd and 4th. A better example would be a position where black either plays 3rd line and takes the territory, or 4th and white slides under somehow. And perhaps this page should be named more consistently with HighVsLowPincer.


Page created by Jared on October 17th, 2004


See also:


This is a copy of the living page "High and low moves" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2011 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About