Facing octopus guard

Facing octopus guard is a descriptive name for the octopus top perspective — naming the top player’s situation when confronting an octopus guard.

Etymology. “Facing” frames the position from the standing or passing player’s side; “octopus guard” names the clinging bottom position they confront. The label is the top counterpart to the octopus guard itself.

Mechanics. The octopus takes inside position with its deep arm wrap, and the top player’s task is to win inside position back: clearing the clinging arm and re-establishing inside control turns the exchange, since whoever holds the inside dictates the outside, and the octopus only controls while its inside arm is uncontested.

Cross-reference. “Octopus pass defence” is a sibling alias. Full mechanical coverage on Octopus — Top Perspective.