◇ Just read — no move needed
Corners, sides, then centre
The opening follows one near-universal rule: corners first, then sides, then the centre — the Chinese proverb renders it as gold corners, silver sides, grass centre. The reason is pure geometry. A corner is enclosed by two edges that work for free, so two or three stones can stake out real ground; on the side one edge helps; in the centre nothing helps, and a stone must justify itself as influence — thickness — rather than held ground. This 19×19 board shows the first moves of a typical game, one corner each, with the side stars being claimed. Notice where every stone sits: the third and fourth lines from the edge — close enough to count territory, far enough to matter toward the centre.