
If necessary, play to generate forcing moves. 20: Don't take a gote move unless you see a nice picture. The kikashi moves usually turn out to be blocking moves in that the opponent must, in a sense, go around them in order to attack the main body of stones. 45: sabaki consists of two steps: first, kikashi moves and then the moves which occupy vital points. Strategic Concepts of Go, fifth printing, p. Instead of moving against the attack with something like solid defense, one moves out of the line of attack, welcoming the attack, for the direction in which the attack is geared, can now be absorbed into our own movement, will give it momentum, so that it not only makes the attack ineffective, it is also used to our own advantage. Repositioning is an important aspect of sabaki. Sabaki is often used to avoid omoi katachi (heavy shape). However, the idea of shape is often related to the method of sabaki. 40: Please note that sabaki does not refer to shape rather, it is a way of playing. An almost identical sentence can be found in Go World 83, published autumn 1998: make good shape, rich in eye potential, so that your stones, if attacked, can easily make eyes or escape. The opponent may not like the result and play different, in which case one can then be satisfied with the indirect defense of a weakness and better follow up moves for making good shape. Meanwhile, one makes sabaki by building outside thickness or a formation where eyes can be attained. This often involves a sacrifice which serves to force the opponent to go around capturing before he can resume to attack. use forcing moves before playing a vital point. To avoid a heavy group, one can kind of reposition, step aside, with a light move that aims to utilize a coming attack for the (quick) development of stones, i.e.

Our efforts must be so directed that the body will be capable of light movement in any direction whatsoever. A group that ends up as heavy has failed to make sabaki. In general, Tai-Sabaki may be described as a balancing movement for the body and should be practiced daily as part of your training.


Though sabaki does not refer to shape rather, it is a way of playing, it is often used to avoid heavy shape. techniques that are the opposite of clumsy play.skillful process of successfully handling an awkward situation.As such, the exact rendering of sabaki can vary depending on the context and, as a result, has seen broader attempts at defining.īroad definitions of sabaki are more like the following: The local objective may only be a means to a global (larger) strategic objective. For example, the process of sabaki could involve other aims, such as reducing in sente by means of sacrifice(s) or tempting the opponent into a disadvantageous large-scale fight. While sabaki involves making light shapes and occasionally settling groups through shinogi, it doesn't exactly equate to either of these.
