UPDATE:
There is a draft on here somewhere, but alas, like losing a KO*, I didn't realize it was gone until it was too late.I had hoped to be uploading examples via an SVG editor by now, but as with using Linux, the program has become a labor of love.

(* a KO is a special situation which we will talk about at a later date)

INTRODUCTION:
In any event, I've begun researching standard openings, called joseki. The game has three main phases of play; the opening, mid-game, and the end game. The general opening, no matter the size of board used, begins in the corners. Players begin by staking claim to these as it take the least plays to control territory, and from their they move (extending) to the sides.

USING JOSEKI:
The corners are also the places where fighting usually begins, and based on your respective moves either player may come out ahead or behind point wise. Josekis are, in this respect, a series of sequential moves that lead to a mutually favorable outcome.  It is up to both players whether or not to stick to the joseki sequence and this may be influenced by other groups near by on the board.

The danger of learning Josekis, as far as i have come to understand them, is rote memorization. The beginner move is often to simply learn them because they lead to favorable outcomes, but based on the entire board, or in weakness in your opponents response you may wish to deviate. this can only be don if you truly understand what each move in the joseki intends to do.

 This is the beauty of GO, each play has a different meaning and level of strength bases on the surrounding stones. Even a good joseki may be a bad move if the situation calls for something different.

(Example to come shortly)