Joseki Encyclopedia

Star Point Special Plays

Start interactive lesson Joseki Encyclopedia

star-point-special-plays

Level: beginner/intermediate
Updated: 2026-05-19
Concepts: corner profit · direction · efficiency · special cases
Tags: joseki · star-point · attachment · approach · reduction

Lesson board

Star point, attachment under the corner.

Lower-left corner

Black answer

The default answer. Black bends at the corner, keeps the shape compact, and avoids unnecessary complications.

White contact choice

White retreats toward the side. This is lighter and safer than cutting before the shape is ready.

Sequence

setup

Black 1 star point, White 2 attaches underneath

White uses the attachment when a direct 3-3 invasion would give Black the wrong direction.

The attachment is a situational play. In an empty corner it is usually a little worse than ordinary 3-3 invasion or approach play, so Black should answer simply and take the solid corner profit.

Do not overreact to the unusual move. First make the corner strong.

Later notes

Direction

Whole-board direction can justify the attachment

The attachment is most useful when a 3-3 invasion would let Black block toward a very valuable side. Then White may attach to disturb that direction.

Judge the side first. The move is special because of direction, not because it is locally superior.

Wide approaches

High approach is a separate corner example

Against a high approach, Black can calmly guard the corner with a small-knight shape. This belongs to a separate local setup from the attachment line.

Do not read the high-approach guard as the next move after the attachment.

Wide approaches

Large-knight approach asks for a direct block

When White starts from a large-knight approach, Black can point at the side and stop the easy slide. It is another separate setup, not an inward jump from the attachment board.

Keep the large-knight approach as a context note instead of a branch on the attachment board.

Low reductions

2-4 and 2-5 reductions are special-purpose

In an empty star-point corner, low reductions usually let Black choose either outside strength or efficient corner profit. They become attractive only when living low is exactly the whole-board direction White needs.

Do not use the low reduction as a default opening approach.

Mistake map