approach move
A capturing-race move that occupies an approach liberty and creates an extra step before a group’s liberties can be directly reduced.
An approach move is a move used in a capturing race to occupy an approach liberty of the opposing group. By taking this point, the player reduces the opponent’s effective liberties and seeks a better result in the race.
An approach liberty is not a direct liberty adjacent to the opposing stones. Therefore, playing on it generally requires an additional move before it directly reduces those stones’ liberties. This distinguishes an approach move from a direct liberty reduction, which plays immediately on a liberty next to the opposing group.
Its value depends on the surrounding stones, tactical defenses, and the order of play in the capturing race. A move that looks useful in isolation may have a different result when those factors change.
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