Mini Chinese Shoulder Hit

the beginning  

velther: this is the basic set up with the mini chinese shoulder hit. white is a common move to counter the mini chinese, especially when the bottom right black corner is a hoshi, and not a komoku. For statistical reference, since 2006+, 55 games have this opening, black wins 28/55, white wins 27/55.

initial responses  

black is 1 of 2 options, the other being to extend rather than hane, but if the hane is made, then 3 possibilities can happen. A is the most common, with 32 games and B is the 2nd most common with 14 games.

option A

common continuation with option A  

here is a continuation. white is the most common move, followed closely by A. white , white are both common aji points to take advantage of against this mini chinese set-up. B is a consistent probe against the mini chinese that is played very frequently and at different times.

common continuation with option A  

here is a continuation. black is practically forced if black wants to keep the pressure against white and not give him an easy option to steal a corner. so black is now split off, but so is white, and center running/fighting begins.

option B

common continuation with option B  

In option B, black takes a long keima with , and white plays , a critical and important timing move that if mistimed will ruin white's board (punish seq to be shown down below). black plays precisely because of white , and this allows W to enter into black's area.

common continuation with option B  

a meek continuation. black chooses to build solid influence, and white gets which aims to attack and flatten. White cannot be considered bad here, and neither can black, however black usually favors a different approach:

common continuation with option B  

black prefers to play at more often than block at 2 because his framework on the top side of the board will give him an easier time handling the invasion.

common continuation with option B  

so here is the outcome, white obtains and , which combined will allow a successful invasion of black's mini chinese framework. the actual global joseki continues with A, while B is an uncommon continuation.

common continuation with option B  

when black does , white obtains some shape and cuts off black. black usually will opt to play to prevent strengthening white , which if it happened would be costly towards black's now floating center group. White's most common continuation is at A, however B and C are possible. White 6 is also not the only move:

common continuation with option B  

white is possible, but not as frequent considering black's forcing move at being a "center" forcing move, which will naturally strength his floating group and weaken W's invasion group.

option B mistiming of the corner probe

probe mistiming sequence  

When black plays , B is a natural continuaton, however it fails without a corner probe to set up a favorable sequence. Should white not play the probe, this is the punish sequence:

probe mistiming sequence  

after black , white is in pieces. if he tries the probe now, black has and white has completely failed. however what if the probe was properly timed?, this happens:

probe mistiming sequence  

White can cut and obtain enough liberties in the corner to kill black's stones. if the probe is played at the correct time, black is forced to hane the probe or else allow it to take the corner or set up enough aji for an even greater invasion, so black is ONLY forced to hane the probe BEFORE white's clamp, and that critical timing is what forces black to defend rather than come down with in the previous diagram.