JAPANESE TERM ENGLISH TRANSLATIONaji A condition inherently lingering in a position or group of stones which offers potential for future play. This aji may be good or bad.
aji keshi The elimination of aji, usually a move to be avoided.
atari A move which occupies the second last liberty of an enemy stone or group, thus threatening to capture it.
boshi Capping move
damezumari Shortage of liberties
de A move which pushes between two enemy stones
furikawari Exchange
fuseki The opening stage of the game
gote To play last in a local encounter ; the opposite of sente. Gote loses the initiative.
hamete Trick move
hane A diagonal move played in contact with an enemy stone
hasami Pincer play
hoshi Star point
jigo A drawn game
joseki A formalised sequence of moves usually restricted to the corner.
kaketsugi An open connection
katatsugi A solid connection
keima A knight's move jump away from one of your own stones
kikashi A forcing move
ko A board position which requires a player to make a move elsewhere before recapturing after the opponent has just captured a stone, to avoid recreating a former board position. One of the key strategic elements of the game.
ko threat A move, usually threatening, which a player makes before he is allowed to retake in a ko fight as above.
korigatachi Overconcentrated shape, a situation to be avoided
kosumi A diagonal move
miai Two points which, if the opponent takes one, you must take the other to avoid disadvantage. Obviously if you can take two miai points, you gain the advantage.
moyo A large territorial framework.
nobi Extending one stone along a line
nozoki A peeping move which threatens to cut
ogeima A large knight's jump
oki go Handicap Go
osae A blocking move which prevents the enemy from extending along a line
oshi To push along a line on top of a line of enemy stones
sabaki Quick, light and flexible development of stones, particularly necessary when invading
sagari To descend straight down towards the edge of the board
sente To have the tempo to choose where to play next ; to have the initiative. The opposite of gote.
shibori Squeezing
shicho A capturing sequence called a ladder
shimari A two stone corner enclosure
tenuki To play elsewhere, ignoring the opponent's last move
tesuji A clever move in a local fight
tsugi Connection
tsuke Attachment
tsumego Life and death
uchikomi Invasion
wariuchi A wedging move which has room for expansion in either direction
yose Endgame
yosu-miru A move which causes the opponent to commit himself to some action before you have to commit yourself
You are welcome to suggest other terms which should be included.
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