07. A Time to Expand, and a Time to Defend.pdf

The Game of Go

http://www.361points.com/articles/7/1/

A Time to Expand, and a Time to Defend

by Sorin Gherman

Black to play in Dia 1.

This looks like a territory vs. influence game: White has 3 territories - about 10 points each - while Black

has a lot of potential on the right and lower right, but no definite territory except in the upper-right corner.

Black seems to have a good game - and it is his turn to move, too. Make sure you analyze the position

well before making the next move.

Dia 1

The lower right looks like the most interesting part of Black's moyo to expand - making a shimari here is

standard. Dia 2 shows one of the many ways to strengthen a single hoshi stone.

If you focused on the Black moyo, though, you missed a very important aspect. Hint: think about balance,

and positional judgement.

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2008-03-10 21:49

The Game of Go

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Dia 2

While Black has a great moyo on the right hand side, his position is quite thin in the upper-left.

Considering that Black's moyo is so good, he shouldn't take any risk but spend a move to connect his

weak stones, as in Dia 3. Once he did that, there is nothing else to worry about and he can concentrate on

the moyo.

Dia 3

Dia 4 shows how White can split Black's positions in the upper left, causing trouble.

Black is thin in the upper left, and if White cuts here Black will have two groups to worry about.

Dia 4

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2008-03-10 21:49

The Game of Go

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Conclusion

Before starting on something juicy like building or expanding a moyo, make sure you don't have

weak groups to defend first. Just imagine how exciting would be for your opponent to attack your

groups if you don't defend!

Further study

Positional Judgment by Cho Chikun

Attack and Defense by Ishida Akira

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