endgame

The endgame is the phase of Go in which the remaining moves primarily determine or clarify territory and other relatively settled areas, usually after the main middle-game fighting has been resolved. It is not simply the final few moves: endgame positions can arise while unsettled fighting continues elsewhere on the board.

Players use endgame moves to secure their own territory, reduce the opponent’s potential territory, repair weaknesses, and select between sente and gote sequences. The value and order of a move depend on its local follow-ups as well as its consequences across the whole board. The purpose is to maximize the final territorial result and prevent the opponent from taking larger remaining points.

The largest-looking endgame move is not always best. Sente value, useful follow-ups, and unresolved tactical or life-and-death issues may take priority.