Fourth Line

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  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Opening, Strategy

When we speak of the fourth line, this is what we mean:

[Diagram]

The fourth line


On a 19x19 goban, it is said that the fourth line is the line of influence. This means that a fair exchange can result into stones on the third line making territory, opposing stones on the fourth line facing the center.

It is also said that "the fourth line is the line of development". Due to the large influence of fourth line stones, playing there is a good way to develop a framework with possibilities for expansion. In contrast, fourth line stones can easily be undermined, so they are not very useful for making a settled shape.

Building territory on the fourth line is attractive, compared with the same number and spacing of stones on the third line, because it is more efficient. But it is also less secure: invasions under stones placed on the fourth line must be expected. In those cases you need to take influence and use it for framework or fighting.

When speaking of extensions or approach moves, the fourth line will be referred to as high, whereas the third line is called low.

-I believe that the reason that the fourth line is important (more so than the fifth line and higher) is that fourth line stones can strongly pressure stones below them (they are in contact with stones played on the third line, while stones that are even lower are already weak). Therefore, it is often easy to build thickness in response to an invasion while forcing the opponent to defend their stones.

-If one plays any higher, stones played underneath are hard to threaten, and building thickness is difficult. Therefore, it will be difficult to gain any compensation for the territory lost in an invasion - DanielKagan?


Bill: I think it would be a mistake to take pronouncements about the character of certain lines too seriously. Best to regard them as food for thought, to help guide and develop judgement for particular situations. For instance, the sixth line is called the line of the amateur; the seventh line is called the line of the professional. That's useful to know, but only on occasion.

Where did you hear that? I think shinfuseki users would be very interested to know and apply that! ~srn347


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This is a copy of the living page "Fourth Line" at Sensei's Library.
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