Influence vs Territory
📋 What it is
Stones can take sure territory low on the board or build "influence" (power facing the centre) — you balance both.
🗣️ Coach says
A key trade-off: play LOW (3rd line) for solid, countable territory, or play HIGH (4th line and up) to build INFLUENCE — a wall of power facing the open board. Neither is always right; strong players balance grabbing land now against building strength for later fights.
🧠 Memory hook
Low = sure land. High = future power. Great players balance both.
😂 Giggle
Why did the wall of stones cast a shadow?
Because it creates influence over the whole board!
😲 Whoa!
The "3rd line for territory, 4th line for influence" proverb guides where to play the opening stones — one line up or down changes your whole strategy.
✅ Quick check: Playing HIGH (toward the centre) instead of low tends to build what?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Influence — outward-facing power/strength toward the open board — rather than immediate, countable territory.
High stones favour central influence; low stones favour secured territory.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Play a corner low (3rd line) and another high (4th line). Feel one give land, the other give power.