Good morning! As I have said many times, to improve in Go, one must not slack to do Life and Death problems (tsumego). Even doing one problem a day is good for you. If they say “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, may I say “One tsumego a day keeps dead stones away”? Anyway, besides solving tsumego, practice problems in other areas of Go is also important so that we can practice the lessons that we have learned and reinforce the learning. Better still, you will be learning to see the problem as if you encounter them on the board in your own game.
So let’s solve some problems regarding the opening using the fundamentals we have learned so far. Let this be an intermission before I proceed to the next lesson. I want to you really know and understand some key fundamentals. We need to face and solve problems hands-on ourselves, not like how the nuns solve the problem of Maria by sending her away to the Von Trapps. We cannot just send our problems away! We need to solve them ourselves.
First and foremost, before I give you more problems to solve, let’s look at the problem I showed you in the previous lesson and let’s look at the solution.
Diagram 1.
The problem in Diagram 1 above is the same problem I asked you to see and try to solve in the previous lesson. I hope you have spent some time looking at the problem and trying to come up with the correct answer. It is ok if you do not get it right. The important thing is you try to solve it using the fundamentals that I have exposed you to.
Diagram 2.
There are actually four moves that White can consider, from A to D. We shall discuss these moves one by one and arrive at the answer to the problems. But for now, try to think of the reasons for these moves yourself and then check your thinking and reasoning against the analysis that I am going to present to you. If your thinking is the same as the analysis, then bravo! If not, then try to understand why your thinking is different and then try to correct the thinking. This is a very important process in your learning. Try to understand why you think such a way and then try to correct that thinking process. Go is a thinking game. Your brain and a professional’s brain is not much different in terms of construction but what is different is their thinking process and your thinking process. If you can think like they do, then you will be just as strong.
Diagram 3.
Let’s analyse move A. When White plays at 1, the moves through 6 is a standard sequence. After this move, Black gets to keep the right side while White gets the corner and at the same time strengthen the marked White stones. This is a very good result for White and it is a very big move.
Diagram 4.
Instead of Black 4 in Diagram 3 above, Black can play and block as in Diagram 4. The sequence to 7 is a standard sequence. The result is Black will lose control of the right side territory but at the same time, the marked White stones will be weakened.
In any case, White 1 in both Diagrams 3 and 4 is a very good move and is a very big and profitable move. But it is not our answer.
Diagram 5.
White 1 is Diagram 5 above is also a very good point. This is because it protects against a Black invasion at “a”. White 1 prevents this invasion and stabilizes this White group and at the same time, it jumps into the center, thus taking part in the control of the center. Another reason why this is a good move is because it indirectly lent some support to the White group on the left side which is still weak. This is killing 3 birds with 1 stone! But this is not our answer.
Diagram 6.
The invasion of White 1 in Diagram 6 above is also a good point. It splits up Black’s position on the right side and prevent Black from securing the whole of the right side to itself, which is rather big. But this is also not our answer.
Diagram 7.
Our answer is White 1 in Diagram 7 above. This move is the most important and critical move on the board. This move is 100%. The reason is because this moves not only help White stabilize its own stones on the left side, which is still not alive yet but it also remove the base of the Black stones in the corner. Moves like this, moves that establish your own base and life and remove opponent’s base is a first class move. You must not miss moves like this.
Let me say this one million times, getting a stable base is your top priority.
Diagram 8.
After White plays at 1, Black will block at 2 and White will connect at 3. Then the sequence to to 5 is common. Now Black cannot play at “a” next because when White plays at “b”, it will put the two Black stones in atari and after Black saves these two Black stones, White will play at C and capture the Black stone “4″. Therefore, if Black cannot play at “a”, then White will have one secure eye in the corner. Try to verify this by yourself. And if White has one eye at the corner plus another eye outside, White is safe. But this is bad news for Black. The Black stones now do not have a base and will need to scramble for life. Scrambling for life is no good! And not to mention, Black’s corner territory is no more.
Diagram 9.
Now let’s look at Diagram 9 above. Let’s say that Black manage to play and block at 1 in Diagram 9 above, not only does the Black stone now has a base, it also has some territory in the corner. This move also weakens the White group because this White group does not yet have two eyes and as a result, this White group will have to scramble for life. As you should know by now, scrambling for life is BAD BAD BAD.
Compare the fate of the Black stones in Diagram 8 and Diagram 9, the Black stones in Diagram 9 is like living in Heaven while the Black stones in Diagram 8 is living in hell. And vice-versa for White.
So I hope with this example, you understand by now what I am trying to say. Feel it. Think about it. Put it to use in your games. This is the single most important lesson in the fundamentals. If you need to remember only one fundamental, it is this. Get a secure base for yourself. Deny your opponent a stable base.
Okay, time for some problems. Try to think about this problem and apply the fundamentals that you have learned so far.
Problem 1. Black to Play.
Problem 2. Black to Play.
Problem 3. Black to Play
We will study these problems in the next installment before I proceed to the next lesson. Till then, have fun!
