Thickness and Influence
Thickness is a wall of strong, connected stones with no weaknesses — a group that is completely alive and faces open space. It doesn't surround territory directly, but the influence it projects across the board is one of Go's most misunderstood and most powerful assets.
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What thickness is
A thick position is one your opponent simply cannot attack: solidly connected, with eye shape assured, facing outward. Thickness isn't points on the board — it's power. It makes nearby fights favour you, lets you attack the opponent's weak groups fiercely, and turns the area in front of it into a place where your stones are strong and theirs are in danger.
Don't use thickness to make territory
The most famous proverb about thickness warns against turning it straight into points. A wall's value is in attacking and fighting, not in walling off the modest territory right beside it — doing that wastes most of its strength. Instead, use thickness to chase the opponent's stones toward it, gaining elsewhere while they run.
Play away from thickness
Another proverb: stay away from thickness — both yours and your opponent's. Playing too close to your own wall is inefficient because those stones were already strong. Playing close to your opponent's wall is dangerous because you'll be fighting where they're strongest. Good players keep a respectful distance from every wall on the board.
Frequently asked questions
- What is thickness in Go?
- Thickness is a solid, fully alive wall of connected stones with no weaknesses, facing open space. It doesn't make territory directly but radiates influence that strengthens your fighting and attacking across the board.
- Why shouldn't I use thickness to make territory?
- Because a wall's real value is power for fighting and attacking, not the small territory beside it. Walling off nearby points wastes most of the influence you paid for. Use thickness to attack instead.
- What's the difference between thickness and territory?
- Territory is secured empty points that count as score. Thickness is strength and influence — it doesn't count as points itself, but it helps you win fights and make territory elsewhere.
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