Term Time

British Go Journal No. 41. May 1978. Page 21.

Kake = To Press

Continuing our series on the most significant Japanese Go terms.

Kake, pronounces approximately, kah-keh, is one of the few important Japanese terms which is always used in its English form, the English being so perfectly descriptive.

Diagram 1 BGJ had this diagram and that for Page 20 swapped.

Black 1 in Dia 1 is the pressing move, hitting the white stone on the shoulder. Whites first option is to resist being pushed down by pushing between the two Black stones to separate them. This leads to tactical fighting which we will not study here. However, it is important to remember that pressing moves can often be resisted in this way.

The second option is to crawl along the third line as in the diagram. Black keeps pressing with 3 and this time white jumps with 4. This jump ahead is very important. With every move that black presses white down, white gets territory against the edge and black gets influence facing the centre. If white is pressed further than necessary along the third line, his territory will be worth less than blacks influence.

Diagram 2

Dia 2 shows what we mean. The moves to 11 are a well-known joseki. Black has territory against the edge and 11 is the essential jump which takes him ahead of white. 12-22 shows just one possibility if white decides to press black further.

Black cannot play 13 on the fourth line because white will push between 1 and 11, but 15 is a safe move and after white protects his cutting point with 22, both whites central influence and blacks territory have increased dramatically.

Diagram 3

In Dia 3 white jumps ahead of black immediately. This immediate jump allows Black to push through and sacrifice one stone, but whether the sacrifice is effective or not depends of course on the overall position.

Here black sacrifices with 5, White correctly captures the cutting stone, rather than protecting on the outside, and though black can capture 2 in a ladder, white is more than happy. Not only can he live in the corner with one more move, but he can push at A and break through into the centre. Black cannot stop him without spoiling his ladder.

Diagram 4

Finally, pressing does not have to be against the edge. In Dia 4 white 1 hits black on the shoulder and this time white wants to get out into the centre as quickly as he can. (Though if black does not resist white would be delighted to continue at 2 and press black in that direction.)

As soon as black leaps ahead and sideways with 6, White jumps also with 7 and the sequence probably ends.

If White pushes left of 5 to cut the knights move, black plays above 4 and if white cuts, his cutting stone is captured easily and safely. This is why Black pushed to 4 before jumping. If he jumps with 4, White can push and cut and his cutting stone can only be captured in a ladder which is more dangerous for black.