dango
A compact, dumpling-like cluster of stones that usually represents heavy, inefficient shape.
Dango is a compact, dumpling-like shape in which several stones are clumped closely together. The stones occupy many adjacent points while sharing limited liberties and having poor mobility. As a result, the group is heavy and generally has little flexibility or efficient potential for making eyes.
Dango usually describes an undesirable shape or a result to avoid. A player may nevertheless accept it when tactics force the formation or when the clump serves a specific purpose. It is a particular kind of bad shape—not simply any inefficient move or disconnected formation. Its value depends on the surrounding position: a clumped shape is not automatically bad if it provides strength or achieves a tactical objective.
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