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Seeing the Board Like an Expert
From Tiles to Patterns
Beginners see individual squares; experts see structures. The ability to “read the board” means instantly recognizing which areas are alive, which are fragile, and where the next battle will happen.
Three Things to Look For
- Unfinished Enclosures – spaces one tile away from scoring
- Weak Connections – lines that collapse if a single point is removed
- Tempo Hotspots – moves that change several areas at once
Common Patterns
- Corridors that can be sealed from either side
- Diagonal shapes that hide future chains
- Anchor points connecting two territories
Practical Reading Method
Before each move take five seconds to:
- scan for any extra-turn potential
- identify your weakest border
- locate the opponent’s best Burst target
Training Your Eye
Pattern recognition improves with deliberate practice. After a match, review one position and ask: “What did I fail to see?” Over time the board will begin to speak instantly.
Mistakes to Avoid
- staring only at the last move
- ignoring the opposite side of the board
- judging by current score instead of potential
True mastery starts when you no longer calculate everything – you simply recognize it.
