From h.ling@qut.edu.au Tue Aug 1 09:18:22 1995
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Go Strategies/Tactics (not complete)
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Note that all the moves are of strategic and tactical nature. I don't want
to include moves that describe physical movements such as elephant step, horse
step, one point jump, etc because they are too numerous. If you doubt some
of the moves listed, please consult with a Go expert especially an oriental one.
Any corrections or additions should be sent to the email address at the bottom
of this page.
Please note that in a high level game every stone is played with one or more
of these stratgies/tactics in mind and a group of stones can also be described
in terms of these attributes. This rich repertoire is possible because
1) the aim of Go is to capture 361 points as well as however many opponents
stones played.
2) a stone can be played at any position and at any point in time.
3) long history of playing and study.
4) estimation and exact computation of value are possible.
5) constructive build-up of stones.
The List
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asking
probing
one area relating to another area
inducing
preparation
correct order
sente (retain initiative)
gote (losing initiative)
global
local
wait-and-see
patient
attacking
defending
indirect attacking
direct attacking
indirect defending
direct defending
counter attacking
moyo (territory) building
moyo (territory) erasing
tesuji (skillful play)
kill the shape
make stones congested
make situation simple
make situation complicated
invading
kill eye
make eye
kill eye space
make eye space
territory critical point
shape critical point
increase liberty in race to capture
reduce liberty in race to capture
light and flexible
heavy
busy
relaxed
ko threat
self harming ko threat
cause opponent to miss the proper move
based on reading
create defects
protect defects
win/lose move
corner enclosure
territorial big point
blocking
direction of play
play inside
play outside
feeling of stone
keeping aji
self-aji-killing
using aji
softening blow
discouraging
sacrifice
settling weak stones
taking profit
door trapping
escaping
encirclement
breaking out from encirclement
linking
solid connection
increase value
decrease value
gaining tempo
speedy development
slow development
opening lead to early fighting
opening lead to early ending
opening the game up
chopping the game into small areas
wrapping the game up
ladder capture
ladder breaking
ignoring
gut feeling
temperamental
no heart (see notes below)
ordinary heart (see notes below)
corner opening
edge opening
centre opening
cross cutting
exchange
attach (get close)
pincer
counter pincer
using dead stones
thickness
using thickness
choosing right time to fight
choosing right place to fight
noble
trick (underhanded)
peeping
long range peeping
seeing two (multi-purpose)
capping
endgame (double sente, double gote, one-side sente, big, small, combination)
Explanatory Notes
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"No heart" and "ordinary heart" are used by RinKaiHo in his early career
when he took many titles. These Zen "moves" were suggested by his teacher
GoSeiGen. GoSeiGen is a devout buddhist belonging to a special branch called
"red cross". His wife was arrested and thrown in jail when she
presented a peace letter to General MacArthur in May 1946.
How-Hie Ling.
(h.ling@qut.edu.au)