What's this shape called?

Does this shape have a name? I found myself making it 2 or 3 times. It seems pretty strong but I don’t think I recall seeing it in any lists of strong shapes. What are the pros and cons of this vs, say, a table? More vulnerable to attachments?

23

https://senseis.xmp.net/?ThrowingStarShape

8 Likes

That’s what I’d call inefficient.

3 Likes

Take away one of the stones, then it is called the big bulge. https://senseis.xmp.net/?BigBulge

3 Likes

Why is it inefficient?

I can just guess what smurph had meant. I suppose the reasoning is similar to an empty triangle, where one of the stones is obsolete. Usually just 3 of the stones would do as much good and the 4th one secures one eye only. Under certain circumstances this can be a good shape. If you are forced to live in a small space, somewhere in a center, this would be a good way to bootstrap a living group.

2 Likes

I highly disagree. It’s a highly useful shape in shinogi that’s widely used by pros.

3 Likes

Name three matches.

Easy. Takemiya Masaki - Kim Su Chang 27/9/1992
Awaji Shuzo - Sakata Eio 15/12/1983
Cho Riyu - Muramatsu Hiroki 8/6/2015

And I only gave you those with the isolated pattern. There are way more with other accompanying surroundings.
Just because you don’t use it in your games doesn’t mean it’s bad.

7 Likes

See “Shape Up!” by Charles Mattews and Seong-Jure Kim, p191. They say they are “robust, influential shape” and “their efficiency depends on the state of fighting”.

4 Likes

Basically meaning if you make this shape with the first 4 moves of the game, you’re an idiot… but if you manage to make this shape in the middle of your opponents only moyo, he probably hates you a lot.

6 Likes