List of Popular Go Terms

Playing elsewhere or ignoring

Skillful move or best play

High point

Last significant move

Analytical technique

Connection

Invasion

Overplay

Snapback

Splitting move

Bridge, underneath connection

Probe / Probing move

Unsophisticated move, crude play

Jump

Attachment

Wedge

Center point

Life and death problem

Endgame

“New opening strategy” — a shift in attitude toward Go opening theory that emerged in Japan in 1933

Saving a group / Making life

White

Initiative

First dan; 1-dan

Hand talk or hand conversation

Slide; Sliding move

Corner

Open skirt

Sacrificial stone

Alternating colors

Large Slant or Taisha Joseki

Ladder

Forced capture

Proper move

Capturing race

Corner enclosure

Alternate Black (handicap system)

Squeeze

Life and death

Flexible group

Stalemate or mutual life

Placement

Big point

Large knight’s move approach

Large knight’s move enclosure

Big moyo / Big framework

Large monkey jump

Block

Push

Pair Go

Descending move

3-3 point

Squashing push

One of the seven major titles in professional Go in Japan

Double atari

Double approach

Double sente

Three star points in a row

Diamond formation

Turn / Bend

Eye vs. no eye capturing race

3-5 point / 5-3 point

Brilliant move

Avalanche joseki

Double hane

Two eyes

Two-space jump / Two-point jump

Two star points in a row

Connect-and-die

One of the seven major titles in professional Go in Japan
Historically — highest-ranking professional Go player in Japan

Point (for scoring)
Stone (for handicap placement)

Playing inside

Japanese Go Association

Extension; stretch

Large knight’s move

Peep; peeping move.

Equivalence or interchangeable moves

Framework or potential territory

Procedure to decide which player has black

Knight’s move approach

Knight’s move enclosure

Reduction

Game of Go
Board game (general meaning in East Asian contexts)

Assertive play

The Way of Go

Cross-cut

One of the seven major titles in professional Go in Japan

Overconcentrated shape

Ko threat

Black

Knight’s move

Forcing move

Game record

Cut

3-4 point

Diagonal move

Eternity or cycle rule

Compensation score or handicap points

Grade or Student level

One-space jump

Play under the stones

Draw / Tie

Corner approach

A prestigious contemporary title and a historic institution

Proper move

Throw-in

Star point

A student enrolled in professional training programs at Go institutions

Carpenter’s Square

Japanese name for Go

Territory

One-stone handicap series

Ten-game match

One of the seven major professional Go titles in Japan

Critical game / Decisive game / Must-win game

Hanging connection

Kansai Go Institute

Shoulder hit

Standard sequences or established patterns

Trick play

Pincer

Extension

Go club/Go salon

Office of Go

Go stones

Even game/Balanced match

Go bowls/Go containers

Ugly but effective shape

Reverse komi/Negative komi

Reverse sente

Flower-viewing ko, picnic ko

Go board

Half-point game

Clamp

Quick Go / Rapid Go

Diagonal jump

Pullback

Loss of initiative; playing reactively.

A move that attempts to surround an opponent’s stone diagonally

Removing potential

Capping move

Empty Triangle

Middle game

Liberty

Overextended Shape

Liberty shortage

Strike/Attack

Thickness

Net

Bump

Eternal life

Very large knight’s move

Push and cut

Immediate threat

Exchange

Opening

Overtime or countdown phase

Latent opportunities or weaknesses

Grade or master level