Oozaru

The term oozaru literally means “great ape” in Japanese and is a vivid nickname for a move that resembles the monkey jump. This move typically appears in the endgame, when a player leaps deep into the opponent’s territorial framework from a strong second-line position.

Oozaru becomes feasible when the defender lacks supporting stones on the first or second line to reinforce the area under threat. The attacker uses a second-line stone as a launchpad to slice through and claim a significant portion of territory, often turning a quiet position into a game-defining exchange.

Despite its playful name, this move is very effective and often ends in sente, but requires both the right positional conditions and the ability to read deep tactical outcomes.

Learn more about monkey jumps in our free lesson, taken from the How NOT to Lose 30 Points in the Endgame course.