Ponnuki: The Diamond Shape
Ponnuki is the clean diamond of four stones that remains after you capture a single enemy stone in the open. It makes no territory by itself, yet Go players prize it so highly that a proverb declares "a ponnuki is worth 30 points" — a lesson in just how valuable pure influence can be.
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What a ponnuki is
When one enemy stone is surrounded on all four sides and captured, the four capturing stones form a diamond with an empty point in the middle. That shape is a ponnuki. It's perfectly connected, radiates influence in every direction, and is almost impossible to attack.
Why it's worth 30 points
The proverb isn't literal — a ponnuki doesn't put 30 points on the board. It means the shape's influence is worth roughly that much in a fight or a developing position. The ponnuki's strength lets you attack, invade, or build nearby with confidence, and that power often converts into far more than the few stones it cost.
Using and respecting ponnuki
Because a ponnuki is so strong, it's usually a mistake to let your opponent make one for free, and a success when you make one facing open space. As with all thickness, don't waste it by trying to wall off small territory beside it — use its influence to fight and develop across the board.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a ponnuki in Go?
- A ponnuki is the diamond shape of four stones left after capturing a single enemy stone in the open. It's fully connected and radiates influence, making it one of the strongest small shapes in Go.
- Why is a ponnuki worth 30 points?
- The proverb is figurative. A ponnuki makes no territory directly, but its influence is worth roughly 30 points in the fighting and development it enables — a reminder of how valuable pure strength can be.
- How is ponnuki related to thickness?
- A ponnuki is a compact piece of thickness: strong, connected, and influence-rich. Like any thickness, you use it to attack and develop, not to wall off the small territory right next to it.
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