Strategy Spotlight: Breaking out of San-ren-sei

(January 29, 2010 at 3:19 am by Mile Gu in Strategy Spotlight)

This week, we’ll spotlight a violent variation of the standard 1 space pincer that happens so often in games involving the san-ren-sei.

Diagram 1.

When white makes the standard corner approach against san-rei-sei, the one-space pincer at black 3 is a very common response. Black aims to maximise the effectiveness of black 1, and create an impressive moyo on the top. White 8 is more commonly played at a, followed by black b, this seems to submit to black’s plan of sealing white inside. Mind you, this doesn’t mean whites at a is disadvantageous, the result is considered even.  In this diagram, white 8 suggests that she actively wishes to spite black’s game plan from the very start.

Diagram 2.

The standard continuation (Diagram 2) of the joseki, however, still results in white sealed within the corner. After white 10, black either protects his cut directly at a, or first ataries at b. White has gained a few extra points compared to Diagram 1, but black’s influence seems even more impressive. For this reason, most players would prefer the more standard variation where the marked white stone was is played at 5.

Diagram 3.

Recently, however, pros have experimented with a highly aggressive variation. After Black hane’s, white plays an empty triangle at 2. Is this an overplay? It certainly looks like it! Black 3 is clearly a must, playing at a and allowing white b is clearly unbearable. White looks to be in a difficult position… if not for the severe clamp at 4. The fight is on.

Diagram 4.

If black submits at 1, the remaining moves up to white 8 are almost forced. White settles his center group with 8, and black is left with nothing to attack. This thick white group in the middle will make it difficult for black to form any large scale moyo, and black feels like he has been tricked.

Diagram 5

Black can alternatively play the severe moves and 1 and 3. After a sequence of forced moves, white finished with the terrifying cut at 10. The fight becomes frantic, but black looks to have the harder end of the stick.

Diagram 6

So what is black’s best response? That’s still an open question. Diagram 5, for example, shows one possible variation that occurred between pros. One thing is for sure though, white should not try this move is she’s not willing to put up a huge fight.

So, if you don’t like facing giant moyos, and prefer a game filled with fighting, you can give this a go. Again, this tip was possible due to the extremely helpful advice of Kang ZhanBin 6p.