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| · At first, it's hard to know where to play. The 9x9 board is small, but even so it may be hard to know concretely where to start playing. So, let's have a look a few actual games before we start playing. This will give you a feel for how to play. |
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[1]How to play in the opening
· How to play in the opening: 1
· The opening moves are usually played three or four lines from the edge of the board. This is a good guideline to remember.
· With 1 to 4, Black and White focus on the corners. In the opening, the corner is important. This is another guideline worth remembering.
· After Black 5, there is a strong possibility that the right side will become black territory. With White 6, the left side looks like becoming white territory. |
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· How to play in the opening: 2
· Black plays close to the centre point with 1. White plays in the top left with 2, so Black heads to the bottom left with 3, setting up a large-scale position. Black 3 is on the fourth line, so if the corner all becomes black territory just as it it, it will be a big territory.
· White plays at 4 in the top right, so Black answers at 5, defending the bottom right. He defends again at 7 in answer to White 6, so Black looks like getting a large territory extending along the bottom. After 8, White will probably take the top and the top left corner.
· If Black secures all this potential territory, he will get a big territory, as 3 is on the fourth line, and will have a promising game. |
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· How to play in the opening: 3
· Black 1 and 3 make a big formation. White takes the top with 2 and 4.
· When Black blocks off the right side with 5, his potential territory extending along the bottom is too big. White can't let him take so much territory, so he invades with 6. This often happens: you start to enclose an area and the opponent jumps into it.
· The only thing is that there's no knowing if White 6 will live or be captured: you have to play a game to find out. Go is a competition to see who has the more courage, so let's play with resolution. |
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· How to play in the opening: 4
· Black plays in separate places with 1 and 3. So does White, playing 4 in the empty corner. Both sides have occupied two corners.
· Black's position in the bottom left is safe after 5, but the prospects of his stone at 1 are unclear after White draws near with 6.
· There's also a possibility that White 4 might become isolated, so both sides have insecure stones. What happens to 1 and 4 will be decided by the course of the game. |
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· How to play in the opening: 5
· Playing in the exact centre of the board with Black 1 is also a good strategy. White attaches against Black with 2. With 3 and 4, the players fight to take control of the centre.
· In response to 5, White flees with 6, and Black also flees with 7.
· Next --> |
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· How to play in the opening: 5 (continued)
· In response to White 1, Black must flee with 2. White sets up a ladder with 3. The marked black stone can't escape, so Black plays 4 and sacrifices it.
· Black 6 is a geta. This time, the marked white stone can't escape.
· White has secured a territory centring on the top right, while Black looks like getting a big territory extending from the bottom left along the bottom. |
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