In 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...

, shape describes the positional qualities of a group of stones. Descriptions of shapes in go revolve around how well a group creates or removes life and territory. Good shape can refer to the efficient use of stones in outlining territory, the strength of a group in a prospective fight, or making eye shapes so that a group may live. Bad shapes are inefficient in outlining territory and are heavy. Heavy groups cannot easily make eye shapes and are therefore good targets for attack. Understanding and recognizing the difference between good shape and bad is an essential step in becoming a stronger player.

Shape is not a rule; the surrounding position must always be taken into account. While it is useful for beginners to learn the common good and bad shapes presented here, sometimes a usually bad shape can be the best shape to play locally. This can be true if it forces the opponent to create an equally bad or worse shape, or if it accomplishes a specific tactical goal, such as the creation of eye-shape or the capture of an opponent's group.

"To make shape is to take a weak or defective position...and transform it into a strong one. Sometimes this can be done just by putting one stone down in the right place, but usually it takes sacrifice tactics...."

Good Shapes

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From the top left corner, clockwise: Black has a Mouth Shape in the top left corner, which white has foolishly tried to invade at c-17, putting the lone piece into a Net. Just to the right is a white Bamboo Joint. To the right of that is a Double Turn on white's part. In the top right corner is a Small Knight's Jump. On the right center portion of the board are two black stones that are being attacked by white at q-10. If black responds at the spot indicated by a, it would be a Pole Connection. The bottom right corner is a series of single Turns played out, and a Trumpet Connection at k-3. A Large Knight's Jump is in the bottom left corner at g-2. On the left side of the board is a series of One Space Jumps. Just above that is a Tiger's Mouth. In the center of the board is a Diamond shape.

• The is a move to be played when black and white stones are standing side by side and the player who plays diagonally at the end of the opponent's group gains an advantage. This play turns the mutual walls, whereby a player can both expand ones influence and press the opponent down. The Turn at the head of two (or three) stones is used to seize the initiative and to create a thick position.

• The , or two-step hane is two Turns played in succession. It can be an aggressive and appropriate move, but it generally exposes the group of stones to cutting.

• The . The thousand dollar turn is valuable because it radiates influence into the center and one side of the board. By using its thickness, one can easily make eye-shape.

• The is a generally conservative move that allows the stones connected by a Diagonal to be connected, even in the event of a cut, barring outside influences, as there are two cutting points. The Diagonal can also be used to attack into a shape or to solidify border territory.

• The , especially from the middle of three stones, is often the vital point in making good shape. An old Go proverb
  Go proverb
  Go proverbs are traditional proverbs relating to the game of Go, 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...
  
   says, "Don't try to cut the one space jump." This is for good reason, as it is difficult to disconnect without a kikashi
  Go terms
  Players of the game of Go often use jargon to describe situations on the board and surrounding the game. Such technical terms are likely to be encountered in books and articles about Go in English as well as other languages. Many of these terms have been borrowed from Japanese, mostly when no short...
  
  . It can also be the vital point for destroying the enemy's shape. The proverb, "my opponent's vital point is my vital point," often applies in regard to shape. Another way to say it is, "what is good for black is good for white." That is, if you can play there first, then you can destroy their shape.

• The is more fast-paced than either the diagonal move or the one-space jump. It is named after the resemblance to the movement of the Knight in Chess
  Chess
  Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
  
  . It also makes a flexible and light shape and is useful in sabaki. Near the edge of the board the small knight's move is used to secure a base or to link up stones. However this shape can easily be cut. Hence, you must consider the surrounding stones and be prepared to sacrifice one of your own stones to make good shape. It is sometimes called the Small Knight's Move in order to differentiate it from the Large Knight's Move.

• The is a more aggressive version of the Small Knight's Move, and can be cut even more easily. It extends one square further, and is usually used in conjunction with stones already in the area that provide support for this move.

• The is a connection that renders solid a series of previous free-standing stones, into a line, which allows for solidarity and more influence.

• The is a shape that has high defensive capabilities, in that, in order to cut any point of the shape, the opponent must either build up support around the shape or risk an atari when the invading stone is played without any support. It also exerts influence and support in every direction, and can be used to stage further attacks. This shape can be the result of playing with or without capturing an enemy stone - if an enemy stone was captured in the process, it is known as ponnuki; the resulting shape is a Diamond.

• The is a fundamental shape, good for forming an eye. It is half of a square, 2 stones by 2 stones in an "L". Its vital point is across the square, on the far "corner".

• The is a very effective shape for preventing the escape of an enemy's stones and for sabaki.
  

• The , or Hanging Connection, is a one stone short of a Diamond shape. It is so-called because an attacking stone would be under atari immediately if played directly in the "mouth" of the group.

• The , or Trumpet Connection, guards against two different possible attacks on a stone by creating two Tiger's Mouths at the vulnerable cutting points.

• The is safe and can only be cut if short of liberties. whereas the one-space jump is good shape for outlining territory but can be cut by de-giri (to push through then cut and capture the weak side). The Bamboo Joint is the essence of flexibility. It has the beauty of an either-or choice, so that even if the opponent attacks first, you have a safe response.

Bad Shapes

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On the top left corner is a black Dumpling that will be dead shortly. On the top right is a white Empty Triangle - if white had played at a instead of white 1, the stones would not be as threatened as they are currently. On the bottom left is a ladder shape for black (black had just played at black 2). Black will win this ladder battle due to the triangled stone at n-11, but if the n-11 piece did not exist, then white would inevitably win when the regular pattern of play extended to the edge of the board.

• The is an undesirable formation of three stones that inefficiently adds liberties and creates a weak group.

• The is not inherently a bad shape, but the inability to recognize when one is trapped in a ladder shape
  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....
  
   that cannot be won can be fatal.

• The is a shape where a group of stones has been forced into an inefficient lump with few liberties, no eyes and limited ability to counterattack.

Books

1. Making Good Shape: Mastering the Basics, Volume 3, Rob van Zeijst and Richard Bozulich
   Richard Bozulich
   Richard Bozulich is an American author and publisher of go books in English. He co-founded the Ishi Press. He has worked with several Japanese professional players....
   
   . Tokyo: Kiseido Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN 4-906574-73-4. 205 pages.

1. Elementary Go Series, Vol. 3: Tesuji, James Davies. Tokyo: The Ishi Press, Inc., 1975, 1977. 200 pages. Chapter 13, Making Shape, pages 164-181.