Go — Strategy

The opening

At the start of a game the point is not to fight but to claim more space: every stone should work towards future territory or influence.

Corners, sides, centre

The order of value is as old as the game itself: corners — sides —centre. In a corner two edges of the board help enclose territory, on a side one, in the centre none. So the first moves go to the corners, then the players extend along the sides, and only then move into the centre.

First moves in a corner

A move on the third line leans towards territory, one on the fourth towards influence. After the corner comes the extension: a stone on the side two or three points away from your position, so that you can later enclose the space between them.

Joseki without memorising

Joseki are well-studied corner sequences in which both sides get a fair share. It is too early to learn them by heart: what matters more is to seewho got what — the corner or a wall — and whether that fits the rest of the board. A wall that faces your own stone on the side is good; a wall pressed against a strong enemy group is worth very little.

Three boards

• 9×9 — there is hardly an opening: the very first moves are already a fight. A first move in the centre (E5) or at C3/G7 is a normal start, and any weak group here decides the game.
• 13×13 — still four corners, but the sides are short: one extension,and the middle is right there.
• 19×19 — a full fuseki: corners, extensions, then the fight for big points on the sides.

Rules of thumb

• Don't play right next to a strong enemy stone — it only gets stronger.
• Weak groups first. While you have a group without eyes, the big points can wait.
• Handicap is nothing to fear. With handicap stones Black does not have to kill everything: it is enough to live calmly and not lose the handicap stones.