Joseki Encyclopedia

Komoku Low Approach Diagonal Cap Joseki

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komoku-low-approach-diagonal-cap-joseki

Level: beginner/intermediate
Updated: 2026-05-17
Concepts: corner territory · base · solidity · efficiency
Tags: joseki · komoku · low-approach · diagonal-cap · territory

Lesson board

Komoku, low approach, diagonal cap.

Lower-left corner

Black finish

The recommended finish in the open board. Black keeps the corner and stays above White.

White base

The territorial version shown as the main finish. White settles low and keeps the base simple.

Sequence

setup

Black 1 komoku, White 2 low approach

White approaches low, so Black can answer with a direct diagonal cap and take a practical corner result.

The lower-left pattern is intentionally simple. Black blocks from underneath, White stands up, Black jumps toward the outside, and White makes a base on the side.

This is a reliable first answer to memorize when you want komoku territory without starting a complicated fight.

Playable branches

Later notes

Solidity

The corner is harder to re-enter than in many star-point shapes

After the normal finish, Black's corner has very little room for White to live inside. Even forcing attempts tend to make Black more solid.

The sequence is low and simple because the corner profit is meant to be real.

Future follow-up

Lower finishes need surrounding support

Small-knight or lower finishing ideas can appear when nearby stones make them efficient, but they are not the first open-board pattern to memorize.

Use the jump as the baseline; study lower finishes only with whole-board context.

Future follow-up

A direct pincer is a separate handling pattern

If Black skips the diagonal cap and pincers immediately, White can answer by keeping Black low with contact or knight-move pressure.

Do not mix that pincer fight into this simple territorial joseki.

Mistake map