Establishing frameworks

Whenever you are certain that all of your existing framework links are in no need of immediate attention, then you are free to do something else. Your first consideration should be to expand your own framework. In principle frameworks can be expanded later, sometimes merely by strengthening a suitable span of stones so that the new link can thereafter be defended. Make certain that you do not automatically treat just any stone played on or near a handicap point as a framework stone - the establishment of at least a notional framework link is crucial. But this problem of evaluation is not usually difficult especially because it is more usual to map out the entire board at the beginning of the game.

The first nine moves of the even game depicted on the right is perhaps the simplest start possible. Both players comply with GCS. In general any defendable or notional link spanning six or more intersections in positions that have influence on the overall board position, can be considered as framework. But by occupying the handicap points at the very start, there is no need to ponder on the width of each framework link - they are just right!

Black 3 and white 4 are a little unconventional - most players occupy the corners first. But they guarantee a simple structure and are entirely valid. Black 7 establishes a framework square which is preferable to a single isolated link into the centre. Finally, after black 9, White needs to consider how to attack Black's superior framework, but since Black played first this is to be expected.

¨A complex example