Episode #2: A Chinese tesuji against moyo.
In this screencast we will show an interesting trick move,..
that Kim learned when he was studying go in China.
Unlike the flexible move we showed you last week, there are some minor drawbacks to the trick play we will show you in this episode.
However, when used at the right moment and under the right circumstances, this move can be powerful and a refreshing addition to your joseki knowledge.
The opening position you see here is the start of a game between Zhou Ruiyang 3p and Niu Yutian 6p played in 2006 (see "bonus" tab for SGF file).
The marked stone is a tesuji around which the trick play of this episode revolves.
The trick can be used in moyo games when the opponent has two high stones, one positioned on a hoshi starpoint (A) and the other on a centre starpoint nearby (B).
A perfect example is the san-ren-sei fuseki formation which you see here.
Let's get started!
Playing against large influence frameworks such as the san-ren-sei opening requires caution in combination with reduction.
A normal way of "reducing" blacks influence by preventing black from extending from his moyo, is to approach one of the hoshi stones, like you see here.
A black pincer is usual in this situation, aiming to pressure white's lonely stone and at the same time continuing the tactics of large scale influence.
To such a pincer, whites most populair tactic is going into the corner and making life fast: A.
Running out with B is also possible, if you want to prevent black from getting too big of a moyo.
Let's first see the most common variation, where white invades at A.
Black has to block at A to expand his moyo. Playing at B would be a mistake in direction.
When black blocks at A all his stones are working together.
There are some variations in this joseki, but we will quickly show the most basic one.
White took the territory in the corner and is safe.
Black continues his plan of influence on the outside and towards the centre.
Since white has sente, he can approach the other corner.
The same kind of joseki can follow here.
Such fuseki shows two completely different tactics for black and white: influence versus solid territory.
These playing styles often clashed in the professional matches between the two Japanese masters Takemiya Masaki 9p and Cho Chikun 9p.
You can find several games between them - with this opening - in the episodes "bonus" tab.
Let's go back to this opening position.
Instead of jumping into the corner at A or running at B, white can also try the tricky double approach.
Now the usual joseki response for black is to play A: this will lead us to the trick play!
This is joseki.
In this kind of shape, there are two possible joseki answers: A and B.
A is correct now and aims for moyo. B is slack since it's purely territorial and does not cooperate with the other moyo-stones. If you want to know more about the B variation You can check the episode SGF file.
In a moyo game, where the marked stones are already in position, black should play this hane. It is the proper move.
Here, whites normal response which leads to a "standard" joseki is A.
When white plays the tesuji at B he sets up the trick play!
But before the fun starts and to understand the trick play better, let's see the normal variation first.
This is the normal joseki, which basicly is a one way street.
It might look chaotic and complicated at first, but try to study it and you will see that there are few alternatives to every move.
In this shape many players have the urge to play hane at A, following the proverb "play hane at the head of three stones".
However blacks shape is full of weaknesses and this jump...
...is more solid and fixes his cutting points.
White now has to return to the corner to capture the black 3-3 stone and secure his territory.
Black can now block in sente with nice shape
Now that white is solid in the corner black has one weakness left at A which he needs to fix.
Before he does so black can choose to play this sequence, or keep it for ko threats later.
Black fixes up his shape.
The joseki ends here.
This again is a typical example of a devision between territory and influence: solid points vs. raw strength.
White got a big and secure corner territory, while black followed his original opening strategy and created huge influence in the centre.
Now that we have seen the normal variation with A let's see the trick play!
Most players will never have seen this move, which makes it a powerful surprise and therefore useful to memorise.
Not only is this move tricky and treacherous, but at this point there are also no real drawbacks for white:
Black has no clear way of punishing this move.
This answer looks natural.
But that is exactly what you want to achieve with a good trick play.
Black is already tricked and will suffer the consequences.
White goes back to the "joseki" variation that we showed earlier, leaving black no choice but to follow: a one-way street.
Now this jump, which is still the shape move doesn't work as well as in the previous variation.
Good for white!
In the standard joseki, black has only one major weakness at 1, which he fixes by coming back to A.
Here however, black has the additional weakness of 2!
Black has two problems at the same time, and is forced to watch how one of them will be exploited by the opponent.
The natural move, blocking at A, fails for black.
The proper and more solid way of playing is to come back in the corner.
This is the most solid and easy going response.
This result is by no means bad for white.
Black secured a big corner profit with A, but his B stone is severely hurt.
On top of that, blacks original plan of creating a moyo has been destroyed.
Instead of this move...
..this is another possibility which results in a big fight.
We took this move from a professional game between Zhou Ruiyang 3p and Niu Yutian 6p from 2006 (see bonus SGF file).
Now that we have showed you the trick play without any drawbacks, it's important to address a final note.
When white makes the double approach, especially against the san-ren-sei fuseki, there can be a minor drawback.
Namely the possibility of black playing a severe counter attack at the 3-3 point in the corner.
This is a very powerful move.
Instead of playing A, black can choose to play on the 3-3 point when he has 2 stones on the outside to help him with the fight.
Now it's difficult for white to find a good response. There is no clear path for white to follow.
Surrounding the two black stones in the corner, is usually the correct shape move.
However when black has reinforcements nearby on either side, he can cut through whites thin position.
White is cut into pieces. Black has stones nearby and therefore the advantage in this fight.
Instead of trying to surround blacks corner stones immediately, white can try to set up a leaning attack.
This is the proper leaning attack. However, this also leads to a result which favors black.
Black uses his momentum to keep white seperated, making miai of taking the right side or the top.
This atari is a sacrificing technique. Black sacrifices his stone in order to gain strength.
Sente.
This final result is also slightly better for Black: it feels too "easy".
So try this tesuji at home
We are curious about your results
good luck, and see you next time!