Hamete

A hamete is a trick play or trap designed to exploit an opponent’s expected but incorrect response, especially in a joseki sequence. It is also known as a joseki trap or trick play. The player leaves the orthodox continuation and uses a deceptive move or sequence to create a tactical challenge.

A hamete works only if the opponent responds inaccurately. Its purpose is to provoke a mistake and gain an advantage, often by exploiting familiarity with a standard joseki continuation. Unlike an ordinary joseki, it is not primarily a mutually satisfactory standard sequence: it is deliberately deceptive and may be objectively unsound against the correct reply. A hamete is therefore not automatically a sound strategy; accurate reading and response may refute the trap or leave its initiator worse off.