Ryou-sente

Ryousente refers to a situation on the board where both Black and White have moves that require an immediate response — in other words, both players have sente. This creates a dynamic position where the order of play is crucial.

In double sente, whichever player moves first can dictate the flow of the game, forcing the opponent to respond and thus gaining the initiative in a different part of the board. Players often evaluate such positions carefully to decide whether it’s worth playing their sente move immediately or tenuki in favor of an even more urgent one elsewhere.

This concept is key in both the midgame and endgame phases, particularly when calculating yose (endgame) sequences where even half-point differences can decide the outcome.