30 Oct 2009 No Comments

Joseki of the week 5

This week, a 5-4 point joseki is looked at.

Black plays the inside tsuke to the white 4-3 stone, and white replies with the hane under.
Black 5(c16) is the standard reply.
The shape is similar to when black approaches a white 4-3 corner, and white pincers at a(c13).

However in this case, without the white pincer black can happily extend down the left side.

This is the normal continuation.
It gives black a nice base, while white has a solid but low group.
If white plays tenuki instead of 3(f16), black can play a(g16) to press white low and build a wall facing the left side.

White 1 at b18 is a mistake since it becomes easy for black to attack and make
an excellent wall while white crawls.
Later it is sente for black to play a(g18), closing the top side.

by matjet in Analysis, Joseki of the Week

22 Oct 2009 2 Comments

Joseki of the week 4

The joseki for this week is the basic approach, tsuke nobi from the 4-4 point.
It is often played in amateur games with varying
success despite advice from stronger players against it’s usage.

Black usually plays this way to build influence towards a moyo on the top.
White has a cut at a which needs attention.
Playing at b above threatens to cut 1 and 3 apart and prevents black from
immediately cutting at a.

This is the most common continuation.
White usually makes an extension to about 3
to gain a good base for the group.
The exact extension depends on the surrounding and can be any of a.
If there is a strong black group nearby on the left, then a shorter extension may be used.
If it was omited, it becomes easy for black to poke around c and attack white.

If the moyo that black is building is further to the right, then black can instead extend to b to enlarge it.
Otherwise when there are already black stones around b, protecting from the cut at 4 is prefered.
After extending, white has a solid group and has gained sente.
Often this joseki is played in situations where white can reduce
blacks moyo easily or otherwise make good use of having sente,
so black has to be carefull that the situation is appropriate when playing this.

When there isn’t enough room for a proper extension, C12 can work well.
White is no longer forced to respond to E13 with D12.

Other variations after black plays D14 are planned to be covered in a later week.

If there are any questions about the joseki of the week,
or if they are too basic/under-examined/complex, let us know in the comments!

by matjet in Analysis, Joseki of the Week

14 Oct 2009 3 Comments

Joseki of the week 3

This week, shusaku’s kosumi is highlighted.

White plays a low approach to blacks 4-3 stone and black responds with the high diagonal.

Black can gain a nice shape by extending along the top. White might like to prevent this with a play around a or b, but without support in the upper right of the board, it is easy to end up in trouble.

White needs to look after his stone at c15 to prevent black either playing a pincer or pressing down at a.
If white plays the two space extension, black protects the corner then exends to 4. White 1 is closer than ideal, so black can afford to strenghen white this way.
Instead of playing 2, black can now make the good extension at b. if white doesn’t extend up around c, black can press down on the two space extension and gain a wall facing b.

If white plays the 3 space extension instead, black immediatelly invades rather than protecting the corner first.
After the exchange, both players have thick shapes and white has an open skirt on the corner, however black has gained sente.

If there are any questions about the joseki of the week,
or if they are too basic, let us know in the comments!

by matjet in Analysis, Joseki of the Week