Joseki Encyclopedia

Star Point Kosumi-Tsuke Joseki

Start interactive lesson Joseki Encyclopedia

star-point-kosumi-tsuke-basic

Level: beginner/intermediate
Updated: 2026-05-15
Concepts: territory · base · efficiency
Tags: joseki · star-point · basic · territory

Lesson board

Star point, small-knight approach, kosumi-tsuke.

Lower-left corner

Black shape

The standard higher choice. It keeps more outside potential and is better connected to future fighting or center development.

White base

More open toward the center and future fighting, but Black can later aim at the second-line point.

Sequence

setup

Black 1 star point, White 2 small-knight approach

The pattern starts from the most common star-point small-knight approach.

This setup uses the lower-left board orientation. From here, Black caps with kosumi-tsuke, White extends, Black jumps or small-knights, and White makes the standing-two, three-space extension.

If you can play this shape in the opening, the local result is already acceptable for both sides.

Playable branches

Later notes

Future follow-up

Later probes: mentioned, but not this first lesson

Later second-line points, outside pressure, corner entry, and more advanced 2-6 or 2-5 exchanges belong in a future study pass.

For this beginner lesson, keep them as future study and first learn when the local shape is complete.

Mistake map