It is something of a consolation, and an amusing thought. "His is a mind not easily settled ... but neither is mine, I suppose. Strategy tends to distract it sufficiently." Lan Wangji told him black stones begin, so Claudius considers his first move. All games seem to start in taking the corners, though he did try once to start in the center just to see how he'd handled defending multiple fronts. Not well. Politely and practically, he places his first stone more towards the upper right.