Push the enemy towards your thickness

   

Bob McGuigan: The idea behind this proverb is that you should push your opponent's weak group toward your own strong one(s) when attacking. That way you have fewer weaknesses for your opponent to exploit for defense. A frequent direction error is to extend from your thick (powerful) stones to attack your opponent. Players often think this is following the proverb "make territory while attacking" but rather it is an example of the proverb "don't use thickness to make territory." Instead push your opponent's weak stones toward your thickness. This may force your opponent to live small or become sealed in.

http://domidesign.free.fr/revue/cinema.jpg?alignright.jpg

(Image by: [ext] domidesign)

Examples

Alex Weldon: Important caveat: in the case where you're trying to decide from which side to make a checking extension, this proverb may not apply. If pushing him towards your thickness allows your opponent to make an ideal extension from his stone(s), it may be better to approach from the direction of the thickness. I suppose you could say that the reason for this is that if he makes the ideal extension, it isn't really a weak group after all, and letting him make a solid base right in front of your thickness seriously erodes that thickness. This is probably obvious to stronger players, but I've seen beginners quote this proverb as a reason (or excuse) for making this sort of mistake.

Andy Pierce: Also, it depends on whether your "thickness" really is thick (has eyespace and/or shape) or is just heavy (doesn't have eyespace/shape). If it really is thick, then you can push the opponent right into it even if he does get to make a (relatively) easy life with an ideal extension. This allows you to build thickness on the other side. Sooner or later you come to the other edge of the board, where your encroaching thickness can lead to either solid territory, or a decisive attack. If your original "thickness" was really just heaviness, then better to make some territory with it directly. (one kyu's opinion anyway)


This is a copy of the living page "Push the enemy towards your thickness" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2011 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About