Hi Everyone,
While we are at it, we may as well add another supplement on the basic position discussed in our first 4-4 Point Joseki. This supplement and the previous one discusses a bit more in detail the weakness that is present in the Joseki after the sequence is completed. As such, the materials is slightly more difficult but you are sure to encounter it in your game sooner or later. If you cannot digest them now, just keep them in mind and come back to check when you encounter them in your game.
Diagram 1.
After having discussed the weakness of the Black position when there are stones nearby in the previous lesson, let’s look at White’s weaknesses.
Diagram 2.
In that first lesson, we have said that one of White’s weaknesses is that it can be pressed by Black as in Diagram 2 above and Black can limit White’s development towards the center while Black builds influence for himself.
Diagram 3.
A very often used technique to split apart a two space extension is by using the cross cut technique of Black 1 and 3 in Diagram 3 above. When Black plays the contact at 1, he will cut if White responds at 2. After this, if White gives atari at “a” to capture the Black 3 stone, Black will counter atari at “b” and after White captures, Black will connect at “c” and therefore cutting off the marked triangle White stone. If White give atari at “c” instead, Black will counter atari at “d” and after White captures, Black will connect at “a” and cutting off the marked square White stone.
Diagram 4.
Against Black 1, White 2 is a good counter measure. If Black hane at 3, White counters at 4 and the White group will be connected. Here is why.
Diagram 5.
If Black connects at 5, White will seal Black with 6 and through the sequence to White 10, White wins the capturing race since his corner group has 3 liberties while the Black group has only 2 liberties.
Diagram 6.
If Black extends out and escape, White will play 6 giving atari to Black 3 and captures it, and therefore connected.
Diagram 7.
If instead of the hane, Black extends down to Black 3, White still seals Black in and to White 6, the diagram will revert to Diagram 5 above and White will win the capturing race.
Diagram 8.
If Black simply extend out with Black 3 in Diagram 8, White will just connect under with White 4.
Therefore, against Black 1, White 2 is the most effective counter measure.
Diagram 9.
Now let’s look at a more serious situation for White. This is when Black has a marked stone in Diagram 9 above. It aims at the weakness at “a”. If Black has this marked stone, White will normally have to reinforce his position.
Diagram 10.
When Black plays at 1, if White answers at 2, then Black is happy to pull back at 3 as in Diagram 10 above. The White group is still not yet alive and White cannot be happy. Therefore White 2 is not good at all.
Diagram 11.
White should block at 2 as in Diagram 11 above and through White 10 , White captures the 2 Black stones while Black gets outside influence.
Diagram 12.
Black’s attempt with Black 1 in Diagram 12 above does not work and Black will be captured. Black cannot hane out since White can give atari at “a” and then White will win the capturing race.
Diagram 13. Tesuji.
When White blocks with 2 in Diagram 13, Black 3 is a tesuji and the sequence following this is quite complicated. You may want to research this further but for the purpose of this lesson, we have one recommendation.
Diagram 14. Recommendation.
Our recommendation is that after the Joseki in Diagram 1, if Black plays the marked Black stone, White should not ignore it but just play at 1 in Diagram 14 above. The sequence to Black 8 is acceptable and White now has a strong group.
Therefore, as you can see from these two supplements, Joseki is only a very initial stage but after the Joseki is completed the situation will change depending on the surrounding stones that are subsequently played. This makes Go so interesting. I hope that through these two supplements, you understand that basic Joseki pattern in lesson 1 better and you can put what we have discussed here in your games.
See you next time.
