Hane

A hane is a move played diagonally adjacent to an opponent’s stone, turning around it to attack, restrict, or surround it. By changing direction around the opposing stone, the hane often leads to a close-contact exchange in which both players may extend, connect, cut, or counter-hane.

Players use a hane to apply pressure, limit the opponent’s outward movement, gain influence, or develop a surrounding attack. It is defined by its diagonal relationship to an opposing stone, unlike a kosumi, which is a diagonal move without this characteristic turning-around relationship. A hane can expose cutting points or allow a counter-hane, so its effectiveness depends on liberties, connections, and the resulting shape.