Basic Instinct
Go is a game of tactics and strategy. There are, however some basic techniques that in itself require no reading or positional judgment, but which make a fundamental part of good play.
We will list these techniques here, and call them basic instincts. Below, we will elaborate them further or refer to other pages where they are elaborated.
Many basic instincts have been immortalized as proverbs.
| Table of contents Introduction
How to use your Basic Instinct
Advantages
List of the Basic Instincts
From an atari, extend
Reasons
Exceptions
Answer the tsuke with a hane
Reasons
Exceptions
Hane at the head of two stones
Reasons
Exceptions
Stretch from a kosumi-tsuke
Reasons
Exceptions
Block the angle play
Reasons
Exceptions
Connect against a peep
Reasons
Exceptions
Block the thrust
Reasons
Exceptions
Stretch from a bump
Reasons
Exceptions
About this Page |
Table of diagrams Atari -> extension Tsuke -> hane Head of two stones -> hane Kosumi-tsuke -> stretch Diagonal block Diagonal block (ii) Diagonal block (iii) [Peep] -> connect Thrust -> block Bump --> stretch |
Introduction
How to use your Basic Instinct
In all cases, the suggested move is the first move one should think of. They are natural moves. If this move seems to bring no bad result, then it is highly probable that this is the best move. Of course, there are always exceptions, but investigating other options first is likely to be inefficient usage of the brain. See Basic Instinct Counterexample or Basic Instinct Counterexample2.
Advantages
The advantage of knowing the Basic Instinct is twofold:
- You increase the probability of finding the best move
- You reduce time and mental effort in finding it
List of the Basic Instincts
From an atari, extend
Atari -> extension
A stone in atari can usually increase its liberties by extending. This is basic instinct.
Reasons
- Increasing liberties. Even if the stone cannot be saved, extending can give you free moves on the outside as your opponent needs more time and stones to capture yours. See "Add A Second Stone And Sacrifice Both" for more.
- The stone is important: giving it up gives White a ponnuki or worse, influencing the whole area.
- The stone is a cutting stone; saving it allows you to split the opponent's groups apart.
Exceptions
- The stone is caught in a ladder or a net. Extending only increases the loss or destroys aji. Basically: when increasing liberties is not possible.
- The stone is not important enough to save: it represents merely two points.
Answer the tsuke with a hane
Tsuke -> hane
Tsuke means stone played next to an opponent stone, while disconnected from any friendly stone. The hane blocks it, bending around it.
Reasons
- Decreases liberties of opponent stone
- Blocks development of opponent stone into that direction
Exceptions
- When the cutting point (at a) left by the hane is cumbersome
- When the opponent is seeking sabaki and aims for a counter-hane or a cross-cut
- In either of these cases, you should generally stretch (e.g. at a)
If one considers the hane and stretch below the two stones as well, there are generally 4 reasonable responses to an unsupported contact play.
See Respond To Attachment With Hane, How to attack
Hane at the head of two stones
Head of two stones -> hane
See Hane at the Head of Two Stones.
Reasons
- Reduces opponent's liberties
- Getting ahead
- Pressing down
- Creating a weakness
Exceptions
- When the cut at a is a serious threat .
Stretch from a kosumi-tsuke
Kosumi-tsuke -> stretch
Reasons
- Increasing liberties
- Denying a powerful hane, which would block with a tiger shape.
Exceptions
- When it is the opponent's intention to make you heavy, and you need sabaki. In that case, the one-point jump (to a) is an option.
See also how to attack, and the related 'Diagonal attachment - as inferior shape.'
Block the angle play
Diagonal block
strengthens White's stone and weakens Black's. It also blocks Black's approach to the area below. The next diagrams show related positions.
Diagonal block (ii)
Diagonal block (iii)
Sometimes it is better to push and cut (White a - Black b, White c).
Reasons
- Increase your liberties while decreasing your opponent's liberties.
Exceptions
- Specific tactical reasons
Connect against a peep
Peep -> connect
Reasons
- Connection
Exceptions
- Avoiding kikasare (getting pushed around)
- Specific tactical reasons
See also Even A Moron Connects Against A Peep.
Block the thrust
Thrust -> block
Reasons
- If the opponent cuts, he will be cut in return.
- Make the opponent choose the side to cut
Exceptions
- Specific tactical reasons (extra stones on the empty spots)
- Local weakness forces one to dodge
More at Block the thrust
Stretch from a bump
Bump --> stretch
Reasons
- Attachments are usually answered with a hane, but here the attachment is strengthened by the marked stone. If Black hanes instead, White cuts and is the first to extend from a crosscut.
Exceptions
- The cut is not important, or is protected
- Specific tactical reasons
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