Am I really a moron if I don't connect against the peep

  Difficulty: Intermediate   Keywords: Tactics, Strategy, Theory, Proverb

Table of contents Table of diagrams
Pattern
Continuations
Block the poke 01
Block the poke 02
Continuations
Moves 1 to 10
Moves 11 to 20
Moves 21 to 28
Moves 21 to 30
Moves 31 to 40
Moves 41 to 42
Moves 1 to 10
Bill's 1st idea
Bill's 2nd idea
Kill Bill 2

aLegendWai:

Purpose of this page

A proverb says, "Even a moron connects against a peep."

Simply knowing the proverb is not enough. It is over-simplication. It doesn't cover the whole picture of Go well. A further explanation of it can make people understand what they should do when they face a peep.

In this page we are going to discuss:

  • whether one has no options but connect against the peep
  • explore some other options except the direct solid connection, and
  • some more guides to help you to judge when it is the time one should connect against the peep.

Am I really a moron if I don't connect against the peep? [2]

The proverb itself strongly suggest people connecting against a peep. However don't be misled by the phrase of "Even a moron...". Don't get it wrong that it is, say, 99% correct of all cases.

No, you are not a moron if you don't connect. In pro games, you will see many more different responses. It is not uncommon to answer differently. Now let's see the other choices.



Alternative responses against a peep

[Diagram]
Pattern  



[Diagram]
Continuations  

You can see, everywhere can be an option for the peep! Wow! Marvelous!

Playing elsewhere is an option too. Later W will respond to any of the options suggested above.


Statistics

It is from a database with roughly 30,000 pro games. At least one player is pro in the game:

Symbols:
B = Black
W = White
Ba = Black plays at a
Wb = White plays at b (later) when B disregarded W's peep and played elsewhere.

About the table:
Move = the move a player choose to play
no. = the number of times B plays somewhere to respond to W's peep, or W plays when B doesn't respond.
(no.) = when the color in the pattern is reversed, it will be the number of times of W's response to B's peep, or B plays when W doesn't respond.

NOTE Ba, where black connects, is the "suggested" move.

Move -no- (-no-) B win% W win% B win%       W win %
Ba   4575 (4522) 46.2%  48.9% *********    *********
Wa    349  (136) 46.7%  48.4% *********    *********
Bb   1601 (1546) 47.0%  46.4% *********    *********
Wb     96   (60) 55.2%  37.5% ***********  *******
Bc    452  (396) 43.6%  51.3% ********     **********
Wc     14    (2) 21.4%  64.3% ****         ************
Bd    129  (115) 45.0%  48.1% *********    *********
Wd     26    (5) 50.0%  50.0% **********   **********
Be     85   (58) 51.8%  40.0% **********   ********
We     57   (26) 42.1%  54.4% ********     **********
Bf     62   (42) 61.3%  33.9% ************ ******
Wf     13    (2) 92.3%  7.7%  ****************** *
Bg     43   (36) 65.1%  32.6% ************* ******
Wg     28    (3) 42.9%  53.6% ********     **********
Bh     21   (17) 38.1%  57.1% *******      ***********
Wh     31   (15) 35.5%  48.4% *******      *********
Bi     41   (35) 39.0%  58.5% *******      ***********
Wi      0    (0)  0.0%  0.0%
Bj     15   (12) 60.0%  26.7% ************ *****
Wj     12    (4) 41.7%  58.3% ********     ***********

Alex Weldon: Yeah, but most of these other answers (depending on the situation) are also forms of connection. So perhaps the proverb should be "Even a moron connects against a peep, but a strong player connects in the most efficient way." :)

aLegendWai: Yes, you are right. A more soundly proverb you have ever made. Bravo!
The proverb itself is a bit vague. It gives me the feeling the connection here means a solid connection (the diagram should be darned. It misled me ^-^).
By the way, bear in mind that some plays don't really connect both stones (even indirectly), both groups are indeed separate for some variations.
If the connection means so broadly, I doubt it can apply to nearly most situations, not only a peep.
"Even a moron should connect when someone threatens to cut, but a strong player know how to connect in the most efficient way." :)

Andy: The peep is an attempt to force. It is natural for a pro to resist when possible.

Slarty: So, even a pro connects against the peep well over 60% of the time, and that's against non-moronic peeps.


When should I connect against the peep

aLegendWai:
Now you realise the other possible responses of a peep. Next I'll try to tell you when we should connect against a peep.

It is better for us to connect against a peep provided that:

  • you can't let your opponent create possible weaknesses. Connecting can ensure no weaknesses to your group [1]
  • if either group may not be alive if they are separated.
  • you can't sacrifice either group because both are vital to you.

[1]

What weakness you may see if you don't connect

[Diagram]
Block the poke 01  

B1 plays elsewhere. Then assuming W2 the poke and B3 is played, 2 weaknesses occur. If they are serious to you, you should connect against a peep in the first place.


Similar weaknesses may occur even if B1 responds in other ways (instead of playing elsewhere. See the following diagram

[Diagram]
Block the poke 02  




[2]

When should I NOT connect against the peep?

[Diagram]
Continuations  

TDerz: When it makes you heavy and your connected group is much more liable to an attack. I.e. the connection does not add safety/stability/eye-space, rather loses a move to escape.

I miss the time right now to edit here a proper example diagram (e.g. a jump from the 3rd line to the 5th line is peeped while surrounded, resp. next to the opponent's stones in 1ken distance in his sphere of influence) , but the b here is often used for that purpose. White may cut at a then and is squeezed after Black f - W cuts at c, Black's squeeze i.

Playing at i as reply occurs often too - for the same reasons. cf. Forcing Move Misunderstandings

TDerz: Here comes an example:

[4] White: Geert Groenen Rank:6d From:NL
Black: Andrey Kulkov Rank:6d From:RU?
Event: European Championship 2004 Round 1
Date:  25.07.2004
Place: Tuchola, PL
TM:    9000.0
Komi:  6.5
Result: B+Resign
Source: Go, Dutch Go Magazine, 41\:4

Please note, both players were strong European 6 dans

[Diagram]
Moves 1 to 10  



[Diagram]
Moves 11 to 20  



[Diagram]
Moves 21 to 28  





Here comes the pivotal question: Should black connect at a?[3] It makes Black heavy and (almost) commits himself later to save all stones against attack like b or c. I write "almost" because Black decided somewhat later to sacrifice these stones anyway after the white attack c.

[Diagram]
Moves 21 to 30  





Black choses to connect: White 30 (at W10) is too early, white should first create aji around a.

[Diagram]
Moves 31 to 40  



[Diagram]
Moves 41 to 42  





In spite the exchange with the corner this result is good for White (commentary Geert Groenen [4]). Black did not play extension with B41 (= W2), because White then connects at B1 with W42.


[Diagram]
Moves 1 to 10  

Then, how could/should have Black played?

The Squeeze:

With the a-b- aji, this is better. Conclusion: connecting against the peep is a basic instinct - and good.
NOT connecting against the peep involves heavy reading and can be better.


Bill: In the above diagram, wouldn't W5 be better at W6? (And B4 there, too, for that matter.)

[Diagram]
Bill's 1st idea  

Oryx To my untutored eyes, B really doesn't have much left to say in the lower right after W5. Best at this point to shore up things elsewhere, I think.

Tderz: Whow! - W5 looks great here! I guess B4 was shown in the magazine (not played) for optimalization of the squeeze and/or teaching reasons. If, however, it does not work, one should refrain from playing it. Simply B4 at W5 (cf. dia. below) is better here. I should forward this to the magazine and or Geert[4].


[Diagram]
Bill's 2nd idea  




Oryx Now, this is interesting, if only in terms of the point of this page. B4 threatens a peep; is W a moron for not connecting against it?

Bill: Hmmm. If now, Wa, maybe Bb.


[Diagram]
Kill Bill 2  

--Bill

Oryx Say W cuts at W1. B attacks at B2... can B now live on the side?






[3]

Bill: Doesn't the thought just make you cringe?


Am I really a moron if I don't connect against the peep last edited by 24.210.197.96 on June 11, 2015 - 05:04
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