4-4 point very low approach

Approach  

This skirt approach was recently played against me as a way of approaching the corner inside a framework. I had never seen it before, but a search on gobase.org revealed that it has been used by pros many times.

Here is an example:

Fujisawa Hideyuki vs. Takagawa Kaku  

So, when is this play appropriate, and what are the options for responding to it?

- There's something about this on Submarine, which might be useful - Andrew Walkingshaw

Charles Matthews I use this play a lot in handicap games, as White.

Miai  

One can consider it as setting up miai at a and b, so that White can make progress in settling a group here. This makes reasonable sense when, as in the Fujisawa-Takagawa game, there is a black stone at the 10-4 point on the upper side.

One powerful way for Black to play is to press down at c, taking influence. Black can play one or two points to the left of c, also.

Low kakari  

With White forms a base, with a good feeling. Black still needs a local play.
If White invades at the circled point instead, Black a is good.

Cramped  

This sequence, though not held in as poor regard as when I was learning go, gives a more cramped feeling for White. Also, Black can extend further on the right side.

Otake-Sakata  

This is taken from Otake Hideo-Sakata Eio (B) 1969-12-08 in the Judan match. White already had the marked stone in position, as part of a stable group.

Otherwise playing from that side at all goes against the approach on the open side principle - one can question what White could do there other than create a weakish group.

Inside a big framework  

One could also expect White to play this way as a deep invasion in a well-fortified framework, such as this one. But that's a different kind of discussion.

Typical low approach  

We can find many examples of this both with and without Black stones on the points marked a. The move at b seems slightly more popular than in actual play when we search the databases (see 4463 enclosure 2-5 approach, 4463 enclosure 2-4 approach,

Attach against the large knight  

Against the large knight's enclosure White will normally approach at b or plunge straight in at c if there are no black stones around a. When there are such stones then the attachment at becomes the preferred approach.

Attach against 4464 enclosure  

The attachment also seems the more common choice against the 4464 enclosure although both the low approach at b and the 3-3 invasion at c appear as well. When there are no stones yet around a yet White seldom approaches the enclosure immediately, but rather plays around a herself. The contrast between this and the cases of the small and large knight's move enclosures is clear in the data.

--DaveSigaty

Another Low-low Approach  

I have seen it once or twice in professional play, and played it once myself when I had a strong wall on the left side. If I played on the 3-3 I was afraid that he would block to the right, for what it's worth.

Charles I was actually wondering about this one, with only a 4-4 point present. Very rare, it seems. There are a few examples where it is played by top Koreans.