star point
A marked Go-board intersection, usually the 4-4 point, used as a major opening location.
Also known as
A star point (Hoshi) is a marked intersection on a Go board, identified by a small dot. It most commonly means the 4-4 point from a corner. On a 19×19 board, there are nine star points, including the central point known as tengen.
A stone played on a star point simply occupies that marked intersection; Hoshi names a board location, not a special move or rule. Star points are prominent opening choices because they balance influence in the corner with potential toward the sides and center. The term should not be confused with an opening pattern such as sanrensei or a corner enclosure such as a shimari. Usually Hoshi means the 4-4 point, but it can also refer more broadly to any marked star point, including tengen.
This term in other languages