Power go is often seen as a negative thing. It is basically someone who has great reading, and uses that reading to crawl around on the second line and take away opponent territory in exchange for influence. Then he will invade the influence and use his 'power' to compensate for his bad play. Basically 'power' go players usually will fight, play unreasonable moves and seek to make the game as complex as possible while annoying the opponent. If the opponent is not careful he will end up with no territory or get killed. Power go players rely on trying to confuse other players and then outread them when they play a hasty move out of annoyance. It's difficult to explain exactly, but it's a bit like bullying.

Though some high dan players sometimes have this kind of style, it's different from low level 'power' go but it is still reliant on outreading the opponent in complex situation.

I do not understand why power go would have a negative connotation.

I do not understand why power go would have a negative connotation.

To my understanding, the characterizing feature of power go is "ignore established fuseki and joseki theory, rely purely on reading and close combat". Would you agree with that?

Well, I think it depends on your perspective on what it is. If power go = "strongest at the middle game", then how could it have a negative connotation? But if power go = "intentionally creates confusing situations in the hopes of eliciting a dumb mistake," then who would want to play against such a style?

Well, I think it depends on your perspective on what it is. If power go = "strongest at the middle game", then how could it have a negative connotation? But if power go = "intentionally creates confusing situations in the hopes of eliciting a dumb mistake," then who would want to play against such a style?

Powwer go has no negative character as far as I can see. I think some of the posters above are judging from their own amateur perspective and basing their conclusions on how their (weak) amateur opponents play. For me power go implies severity and maximum pressure on the opponent but it does not imply unreasonableness. Among the great classical players Jowa played power go. Maybe Sakata, with his nickname of "razor-sharp" might also be said to have played power go.

The closest Japanese term is 力碁 (chikara go), which means not being restricted by joseki, seeking fights, and relying upon reading.

Well, I think it depends on your perspective on what it is. If power go = "strongest at the middle game", then how could it have a negative connotation? But if power go = "intentionally creates confusing situations in the hopes of eliciting a dumb mistake," then who would want to play against such a style?

Actually, those are my favorite opponents. All I have to do is wait for the overplay.

If we're dueling and I have very good balance, Forcing you onto a narrow raised platform is just controlling the ground. Controlling the ground and proper balance and footwork is part of the fight.