Joseki Encyclopedia

Komoku High Approach Attach-Retreat Joseki

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komoku-high-approach-attach-retreat-joseki

Level: beginner/intermediate
Updated: 2026-05-17
Concepts: corner territory · base · efficiency · timing
Tags: joseki · komoku · high-approach · attach-retreat · territory

Lesson board

Komoku, high approach, attach underneath.

Lower-left corner

Black finish

The recommended finish for this lesson. Black keeps the corner territory but still moves toward the outside.

White base

White's basic standing-two extension. It mainly settles the stones; any side territory is a bonus.

Sequence

setup

Black 1 komoku, White 2 high approach

White approaches on the fourth line, asking whether Black wants territory or outside pressure.

The local direction is the lower-left corner. Black's most practical answer is to attach underneath the approach stone on the third line and take secure corner profit.

For a first komoku high-approach lesson, learn the attach-retreat shape before studying sharper pincers.

Playable branches

Later notes

Counting

Black's corner profit is the point of the sequence

The local corner can be roughly understood as a solid double-digit territorial result for Black.

Do not judge the pattern only by White's apparent side framework.

Future follow-up

Pincers and sharper outside choices belong later

One-space and two-space pincers remain playable study topics, but they are not the first pattern to memorize for this approach.

Use the attach-retreat as the stable default unless you have prepared the sharper fight.

Mistake map