Ooba

Ooba refers to a large, valuable point or area on the board, often prioritized during the fuseki (opening) phase of the game. These points are not necessarily urgent but offer significant gain in terms of territory, influence, or positional advantage.

A major principle in early-game strategy is to identify and claim these big points while they’re still available. The proverb “urgent moves before big moves” reminds players to balance tactical necessity with strategic opportunity. However, if no urgent threats are present, playing an ooba can shape the flow of the entire game.

Unlike dameba (unimportant points), an ooba move can shift balance by enlarging potential moyo (frameworks) or reducing the opponent’s sphere of influence. In later stages, “big point” can also refer to large yose (endgame) moves that affect the score significantly.

You can learn more about big moves in our lesson Big Moves vs. Urgent Moves from The Main Principles of a Glorious Opening course.