Go strategy Go players and tournaments Computer Go Go Rules and History

Ponnuki

Ponnuki (ポン抜き ponnuki, traditional Chinese: 開花 open flower; ; pinyin: kāi hūa; Korean: 빵따냄 ppang-ttanaem or 빵때림 ppang-ttaerim) is a Japanese term in the game of Go that refers to capturing a single stone, resulting in a diamond shape. The shape of the remaining capturing stones is considered to be very strong, due to its influence in all directions. A certain Go proverb says "A Ponnuki is worth 30 points".

Ponnuki move by Black 1

A diamond shape (4 stones touching the same empty spot) is considered a ponnuki only when constructed by capturing the middle stone.

Depending on the context (other stones on the board), a ponnuki may be strong and thick but inefficient (overconcentrated).

Etymology

The word ponnuki (ポン抜き) breaks up into pon and nuki, in which pon is supposedly the imaginary sound of a stone being captured, while nuki means "taking out" (noun).

COMMENTS