Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by
translated by
Stuart Dowsey
ISBN 4-87187-034-0
Contents
Foreword vi
Translator's Notes vii
Foreword
What is thickness? Ifs difficult to define in just one sen-
tence. If forced to, we could say it is the power of solid, secure
stones.
Beginners can understand the concept of territory with
relative ease. Moreover, they can count the number of points
in a piece of territory more or less accurately. However, it is
much more difficult for them to handle and use what is called
thickness or thick shape.
As regards thickness, large territories can be made in its im-
mediate vicinity, thickness can aid attack on an opponent's
weak stones and in other circumstances, its power enables the
creation of new territory elsewhere. This explanation is
straightforward, but words alone are inadequate.
For this book, we have chosen situations that occur fre-
quently in actual play, in joseki and in the fuseki, in even
games and in handicap games, to develop in the reader an
intuitive grasp of the subject and to show him how to use
thickness, how to make thickness and how to cope with an
opponent's thickness. Also, as it is useful to know how many
points thickness is worth, we have touched on this subject to
a limited degree.
Translator's Notes
The term 'thickness' is a direct translation of the Japanese
word 'atsumi'. Its use in the game of go is quite specialized
and not readily understood. The nearest equivalent is
'strength', but it is that special strength which radiates from a
strong connected position into empty areas nearby. Perhaps a
brief explanation, starting from basic principles, will help.
Every stone placed on the board is in direct relationship
with the adjoining points, its liberties. By placing a friendly
stone on any one of these adjacent points, stones can be con-
nected together. If the adjacent point is occupied by an enemy
stone, the number of liberties and the directions in which con-
nections can be made are correspondingly reduced.
However, the same single stone also exerts an effect on the
other surrounding points. The further from the stone the
weaker this effect is. A stone situated by itself, in isolation,
will have an equal effect in all directions. The presence of
other friendly stones nearby add to this effect or in the case of
enemy stones detract. When this effect is unimpeded we say
that the stone or stones are strong and vice versa.
The strongest positions arise when stones are securely con-
nected together. Connected stones combine their effect and
have a strong influence on the surrounding area. The larger
and more secure a group of connected stones is, the greater its
influence will be. However not all strong positions are called
thickness. This term is reserved for lines of connected stones
at right angles to the edge of the board and quite often walls
of stones facing in towards the center. When the strength of
such a position has a significant effect on adjoining areas and
must be taken into account, it is referred to as 'thickness'.
Vlll All About Thickness
Stuart Dowsey
March 1990
Glossary
aji: potential
aji-keshi: erasing or destroying potential
atari: the threat to capture a stone or a group of stones on
the next move.
byo-yomi: overtime. The time given a player (usually 30
seconds or 60 seconds per move) to complete his move after his
clock time has run out.
furikawari: a trade, a swap
fuseki: the opening
hane: a diagonal move played against an enemy stone
joseki: a standard pattern of good play (usually in the corner)
moyo: territorial framework potential, not actual, territory
sabaki: settling a group by making a flexible and resilient
shape
sensei: literally 'teacher'. Professional go players are usually
referred to as sensei.
tesuji: the most skilful move in a local situation
All About Thickness l
Example 1
Settled territory
All About Thickness 3
Playing here
is misdirected. The settled territory
here isn't very large.
4 All About Thickness
Example 2
Example 3
WMMMMMBMMMMMMMMMMMM
Dia.2 Dia.3
Example 4
MHHHMHaBMMMMMMMHHUMMM
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Up to Black 6 is
White's territory is 6 points. a typical joseki.
All About Thickness 31
immediately
Example 9
0WWMWBWBW5BWC
Black 8: captures
Example 10
White's territory is
about 10 points.
All About Thickness 39
Example 11
Example 22
Dia. 2. White might think of the slide into the corner with
White 1 before extending, because if Black answers at 'a',
White 'b' is ideal. However, Black is unlikely to answer with
'a'; instead he will choose the pincer at 2.
The black position after White 1, Black 'a', White V is
without merit.
50 All About Thickness
Example 13
Attack or Defense
According to circumstances,
this move is also possible.
52 All About Thickness
Dia. 1. When Black, using the formula '3 up, 4 across', ex-
tends four spaces with 1 from his three-stone wall, this be-
comes a three-space pincer against the marked stone, a good
move which kills two birds with one stone.
Faced with the squeeze, White can play the sequence from
the diagonal contact at 2 up to 6 in order to settle himself.
All About Thickness 53
Example 14
An aggressive block
56 All About Thickness
Example 15
five
across
All About Thickness 61
Example 16
WMMMMmmaHMMBMBMWWWWW
an Approach Move
Black to play
Example 17
Strong thickness
The wily 5-3 point
All About Thickness 69
Black is satisfied
with his structure.
Example 18
White to play:
Black to play:
he can extend as far as this.
Example 19
White to play:
White's thickness to
the left is reduced.
All About Thickness 77
Dia. 2. If, for argument's sake, Black were to play first, then
the two-space extension to 1 would show correct judgment.
To extend any further to the left would only invite an in-
vasion.
From Black's point of view, the long-range reduction of
White's thickness in the lower left is quite satisfactory.
80 All About Thickness
Example 20
is a Thick Defense
Example 21
Dia. 1. White plays the marked pincer stone with the back-
up of a white stone in the corner. If Black decides to get his
stone out into the open, White will attack by capping him
with 2. Against Black 3, White plays 4 and now has the pos-
sibility that the left side will become territory. This result was
possible because of the thickness on the upper side. The
balance between thickness and territory is very important.
All About Thickness 87
Example 22
(Wo,
Example 23
Dia. 1 Dia. 2
8: connects
Dia. 2 After Black 13, the slide into the corner in the pre-
vious diagram, White pushes down at 1 and cuts at 3. Against
Black 4, White plays 5 and the first stage of the sacrifice
strategy unfolds.
This sequence has become a one-way street; Black cannot
avoid being caught in White's web of intrigue.
All About Thickness 95
Dia. 3. White now turns his attention to the right side with
the block at 1. Black descends to 2, whereupon White plays 3
and 5 to enclose Black in an ever-tightening noose.
Even Black 6 offers no reprieve. Black is forced to occupy
the remaining liberties as White cracks his whip with 7 and 9.
Finally, with the exchange of White 'a' for Black V, Black
has been completely tricked.
Dia. 3 Dia. 4
Example 24
Example 25
This
ends the OpWended
sequence position
All About Thickness 101
his is
Example 26
Example 27
This extension
misses the point
He reduces White's
thickness in a
controlled way.
110 All About Thickness
Example 28
Sphere of influence
All About Thickness 113
Example 29
Dia. 1. If, after White has played the shoulder-hit with his
marked stone, Black pushes at 1, White simply jumps to 2 and
brings pressure to bear on the isolated black stone in the
lower left corner. Next, when Black plays 3 to turn his thick-
ness into a large moyo, White will play the high approach at
4, each player going his own way.
All About Thickness 119
Example 30
BBBIBKBBBBIBBBIBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBflBMBBBBBI
White 1 to 13 follows
White has a strong sphere
i I.M-- S r MI A I. ii
one joseki.
i i i
Dia. 2. The last move in the lower left corner, the block of
White 'a', is a very important point for the completion of
thickness. Neglect this move and play White 1 on the other
side of the board, for example, and Black will jump out at 2,
so White's thickness is left incomplete.
Never leave a job half done.
126 All About Thickness
Example 31
Example 32
Large-scale Territory
This is White's
Black's territory is
sphere of influence
about 17 points.
All About Thickness 131
Example 33
This is almost 30
points of real territory.
Example 34
Example 35
Example 36
Dia. 1. White could also try one line further at 1. This is the
large large knighf s move. If next Black 'a', White counters
with 'b' and vice versaso White has nothing to worry about
White 'c', on the other hand, comes too close to the black
thickness. Black can play 'd', after which White has to survive
in the face of Black's wall. This will be no easy task.
All About Thickness 149
Example 37
4HMMMMMWMMHNM6MMHMMNHHM
Black to play
The sphere of influence
of the white thickness.
Whiter thickness
Black 1 is
a calm move.
White is satisfied
with this compromise.
Example 38
Black to play
Dia. 1. Black could play 1 and 3 with the idea of staking out
the right side, but, because this joseki is too far away, it fails
to make proper use of the thickness of the three marked black
stones. White can now get a base in the corner with 4 and 6.
Black 7 is a good point, but Black's strength lacks something
in grandeur and vigorousness.
All About Thickness 157
Example 39
White profit
All About Thickness 159
Example 40
Be Erased Completely
White to play
Should the erasure Use this stone
be deep or shallow? indirectly.
All About Thickness 163
Example 41
Example 42
The order of
Black 1 and 3
White may not be able to is important
enter this area of thickness.
Example 43
is about 20 points.
All About Thickness 175
Example 44
Black to play
The marked group of white
of black influence.
All About Thickness 179
Dia. 2. Black 1 is also a good point, but White will jump out
at 2 without hesitation.
As you can see, White 2 drastically reduces Black's thick-
ness on the lower left This move also stabilizes White's large
group. The outcome of the whole game is now unclear.
182 All About Thickness
Example 45
qmWttMmMttBMBMWBBMBBMlWlHBOiWia
'Thickness' in Go Proverbs
Dia. A Dia. B
3 up, 4 across
When three stones joined vertically rise away from the
edge, an extension of four spaces is possible.
Dia.E
All About Thickness 191
Thick moves
e. Jump (Ex. 24, p. 96; Ex. 33, p. 134)
f. Bend (Ex. 34, p. 138)
g. Push (Ex. 1, p. 2; Ex. 2, p. 6; Ex. 6, p. 22)
h. Press-down (Ex. 7, p. 26; Ex. 38, p. 154)
i. Connect (Ex. 20, p. 80; Ex. 34, p. 138; Ex. 42, p. 170)
Reduction of thickness
1. Light erasure of thickness and escape (Ex. 29, p. 116; Ex.
36, p. 146; Ex. 37, p. 150)
m. Deep erasure, taking the fight to the thickness (Ex. 40,
p. 162)