Go proverbs are traditional proverb

Proverb

A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...

s relating to the game of Go

Go (board game)

Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...

, generally used to help one find good moves in various situations during a game. They are generalisations and thus a particular proverb will have specific situations where it is not applicable. Knowing when a proverb is inapplicable is part of the process of getting stronger as a Go player. Indeed, several proverbs contradict each other — however they agree in as much as they are advising the player to pay attention to the stated situation.

Go proverbs, go problems and compilations of go games are the three major traditional teaching resources for the game of go.

Several books relating to Go proverbs have been written, for example Go proverbs illustrated by Kensaku Segoe

Kensaku Segoe

was a professional Go player. -Biography:...

  was published in 1960. Such books do not just quote the proverb but spend their pages explaining the meaning and application of the proverbs.

Some proverbs have a more general applicability. For example, one famous proverb is to move where your opponent wants to move. This may be used as a heuristic

Heuristic

Heuristic refers to experience-based techniques for problem solving, learning, and discovery. Heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution, where an exhaustive search is impractical...

 in games such as Scrabble

Scrabble

Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Official reference works provide a list...

.

Proverbs

• Add a second stone to one on the third line then abandon both.
• An eye
  Eye
  Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
  
   of six points in a rectangle is alive.
• Don't make dango
  Dango
  is a Japanese dumpling made from mochiko , related to mochi. It is often served with green tea.Dango are eaten year-round, but the different varieties are traditionally eaten in given seasons...
  
  s.
• Don't make empty triangles.
• Don't peep at a cutting point.
• Don't peep at both sides of a bamboo joint.
• Even a moron connects against a peep.
• Do not be greedy! (Tan bu de sheng, 贪不得胜)
• Don't play 1, 2, 3 - Just play 3.
• For rectangular six in the corner to live, liberties are necessary.
• Hane
  HANE
  HANE may refer to:* Hereditary angioneurotic edema, an angioedema* High-altitude nuclear explosion* Hane, a music album by Kotoko...
  
   at the head of three stones.
• Hane
  HANE
  HANE may refer to:* Hereditary angioneurotic edema, an angioedema* High-altitude nuclear explosion* Hane, a music album by Kotoko...
  
   at the head of two stones.
• If you don't understand ladders
  Ladder (Go)
  In the game of Go, a is a basic sequence of moves in which an attacker pursues a group in atari in a zig-zag pattern across the board. If there are no intervening stones, the group will hit the edge of the board and be captured....
  
   then don't play Go.
• If you have lost all four corners then you have lost.
• If you have secured all four corners then you have won.
• If you have secured all four corners then you have lost.
• In a fight, contact plays strengthen the underdog.
• In a semeai capture the ko
  Ko
  Ko or KO may refer to:* Ko , a Tamil action movie directed by K.V. Anand released in April 2011* Ko , the romanization of the Japanese kana こ and コ* Ko Mountain, the second highest peak in Sikhote-Alin*Ko, Lamphun, Thailand...
  
   on the final play.
• In the corner six stones live but four stones die.
• Keep your stones connected.
• Learn the eye-stealing tesuji
  Tesuji
  A Japanese term used in the games of go or Shogi. A tesuji is a clever play, the best play in a local position, a skillful move. Tesuji is derived from suji , which means "line of play"....
  
  .
• Never try to cut bamboo joints.
• On the second line eight stones live but six stones die.
• On the third line, four will die but six will live.
• Play in the centre of a symmetrical formation.
• Ponnuki
  Ponnuki
  is a Japanese term in the game of Go that refers to capturing a single stone, resulting in a diamond shape. The shape of the remaining capturing stones is considered to be very strong, due to its influence in all directions...
  
   is worth 30 points.
• Separate your opponent's stones.
• Strange things happen at the 1-2 points.
• Strike at the waist of the knight's move.
• The carpenter's square becomes ko.
• The comb formation is alive.
• The monkey jump is worth 8 points.
• The weak carpenter's square is dead.
• There is death in the hane.
• You only have one weak group. Your other weak groups are dead.
• Your enemy's key point is your own key point.

External links

• Go Proverbs at Sensei's Library
• Dashn Proverbs of Baduk Proverbs with diagrams and commentary.