Handicap Go: 7 (Elementary Go)

In the opening stages of the game territory and influence are equally important. However if you concentrate only on making territory and ignore influence the chances are you will find yourself at a disadvantage later on in the game. In handicap games the handicap stones are high on the star points and are not efficient in securing territory. It is therefore natural and strategically correct for Black to emphasize influence. However kyu-level players lack the ability and the confidence to play an influence-oriented game; instead of taking chances on positions in which the territorial boundaries are not clearly defined and are often wide open they prefer to build iron-clad territories in the corners and on the sides. This is strategically unsound. Kyu-level players also tend to play defensively and are not inclined to attack the stronger player. The result is that their opponent steadily starts gaining an advantage in both territory and influence after the first few moves of the game. The correct strategy for Black in handicap games is to place priority on building influence and to use this influence to relentlessly attack. This way of playing might seem to be unreasonable against a strong opponent but it will actually make your handicap games less complicated and your strategic goals more clear. It also leaves your opponent with fewer options in his responses. It is the aim of this book to teach the principles and techniques that you must know to play this kind of game.