Editing Go (game) (section)

=== Opening strategy ===

{{main|Go opening}}

In the opening of the game, players usually play and gain territory in the corners of the board first, as the presence of two edges makes it easier for them to surround territory and establish the eyes they need.{{sfn|Ishigure|2006|pp=7–8}} From a secure position in a corner, it is possible to lay claim to more territory by extending along the side of the board.{{sfn|Otake|2002|p=2}} The opening is the most theoretically difficult part of the game and takes a large proportion of professional players' thinking time.{{sfn|Ishigure|2006|p=6}}{{sfn|Kageyama|2007|p=153}} The first stone played at a corner of the board is generally placed on the third or fourth line from the edge. Players tend to play on or near the 4–4 star point during the opening. Playing nearer to the edge does not produce enough territory to be efficient, and playing further from the edge does not safely secure the territory.{{sfn|Nihon Kiin|1973|p=7 (Vol. 2)}}

In the opening, players often play established sequences called [[joseki]], which are locally balanced exchanges;<ref name=Joseki>{{citation | last = Ishida | first = Yoshio | title = Dictionary of Basic Joseki| year = 1977 | publisher = Kiseido Publishing Company}}</ref> however, the joseki chosen should also produce a satisfactory result on a global scale. It is generally advisable to keep a balance between territory and influence. Which of these gets precedence is often a matter of individual taste.