From local shapes to the whole board · Lesson 29
Approaches, enclosures and joseki: must you memorize sequences?
Approaching an opponent’s corner stone to seek a share of the corner is an approach move. Adding a move to your own corner stone to secure it is a corner enclosure.
After contact in a corner, common sequences that give both players a roughly acceptable result under particular conditions are called joseki. They help explain exchanges; they are not mandatory rules to memorize and follow.
The same corner sequence can have different value in different whole-board positions. Outside support, direction of development and ladders all affect the choice. You can play together without memorizing joseki: look at what each move protects and exchanges.
Original lessons by Yiban ·