Attack From A Distance

    Keywords: Strategy

The principle to attack from a distance gives more direction to the general question how to attack. In particular it warns against

  1. Attachments as attacking moves.
  2. Diagonal approaches as attacking moves

In general, if the attacking stones are close, a counter-attack becomes more effective.

In contrast, the capping play [2] and the keima (see attacking with keima) keep some distance to the object of the attack. Those are basic attacking techniques.

Example 1

[Diagram]

Attack from a distance

This capping play is a typical attacking technique: it gives White no leverage against B1. White's routes to the center have been reduced complicated and her eye space is narrow at the top. Incidentally, the capping play is where the basic defensive move of the one-point jump would come.

[Diagram]

Not an attack (1)

This B1 and B3 don't attack White. They rather carry out a leaning maneuver to gain strength at the expense of easy living for White.

[Diagram]

Not an attack (2)

Here, B1 does not really attack the White stones either. Up to W6, White has increased her potential of making two eyes at the bottom, while B1 and B5 are floating into the centre. Similar results come from other vatiations.



Example 2

[Diagram]

Think like a pro: Haengma


[Diagram]

19x19 diagram

Here we can see that the capping play is indeed an attacking move.


See also


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