Concepts in Priority Order

Influence
Big Move
Connection
Shape
Life

Influence

A group of stones radiates influence. An opponent stone within the influence will have difficulty making life. Therefore a gourp with influence can hope to create profit, but often elsewhere. (The previous sentence is deliberately cryptic.)


The influence of the black stones is limited to the twelve enclosed points. White cannot build a live group in this area. The influence of the white stones radiates far across the board. In the players are equal and there are no other stones on the board, black should resign.

Big Move

You will win if you always make the biggest move. In the early game a big move is one which enlarges your own influence and reduces your opponent's. In the opening game, the first big moves are in the corners and then in the middle of the sides.


Big Moves. The points with circle and cross are big points for white and black respectively. The other marked points are big points for both players. Black will play at the point with the square because it threatens the two lonely white stones to its left and it helps connect the four black stones to safety.


Connection

Connected stones have far less trouble making life. Therefore they can be more useful in acquiring territory. Connected stones should NOT be adjacent unless there are opponent stones in the neighborhood.

The patterns in the Shape diagram are connected.


Shape

A good shape is connected yet efficient; often a good shape has eye making potential. A bad shape is a clump of stones doing poorly what a smaller, shapely group of stones could do.


Good shapes. a. One point jump. b. Diagonal. c. Two space jump on the third line. d. Knight's move. e. Better than playing at e itself; nearly a bamboo joint. f. Almost an eye; better than a bamboo joint. g. Nice solid connection; as long as opponent is around; has eye potential. h. Stand when white attaches; contrast with b. h. Bamboo joint; especially good if opponent peeps in both sides.

Some bad shapes. a. Empty Triangle. b. Running on second line. c. Played on first line during opening. d. Two cutting points. e. Black has played four stones where one or two would have been enough; black has reduced the handicap by at least two stones.

Life

A group of stones is a live if the enclosed space CAN BE divided into two separate holes. Usually it is enough to have one large hole.


Exercises in living. In each of a...o, state where black should play if it is black's turn and where white should play if it is white's turn. It is permissible to say that neither player should play in the situation, if you explain why.. Note how often the correct play has the flavor of a diagonal move.


Difficult exercises in living. Same instructions as above.