A 4-4 and 3-5 strategy

A white strategy (to confuse Black? :-)  

This idea followed a period in which I answered and with the symmetrical and a. This is a very common choice for White but I think it gets boring after a while.

My first idea to change was to switch from a to b hoping to get the chance to play the taisha joseki (I came up with plan after reading a book on the Taisha by Ishida). There are a couple of problems with this plan:

• It is difficult to plan to play the taisha because there are a lot of ways to avoid it (see the discussion on BQM13).
• Unless you are really well prepared, you meet quite a few people who know one or another version of the taisha better than you do!
• Most important (for me) is that if Black simply ignores the upper left, I think White b is facing in the wrong direction to counter the influence of Black's nirensei.

So finally I settled on as shown above.

What do you think?

Follow up 1 - When Black ignores the left  

The first question arises when Black ignores the left in order to complete a sanrensei fuseki on the right with . Should White complete an enclosure in the upper left with a? If not, should White continue in the upper right at b or the lower right at ?

An example for the sanrensei fuseki is given at A 4-4 and 3-5 strategy, example 1

Usually I choose , thinking as follows:

• The sanrensei is a speedy, influence-oriented strategy which I am trying to counter with an equally rapid development. The enclosure at a is a perfectly normal follow-up that does not happen to fit into my current plan.
• The 3-5 point play at is outward-oriented approach. White plays it with the confidence to handle a black invasion of the corner. Immediately making an enclosure to close the corner seems inconsistent with the original choice in the upper left.
• In choosing between the upper right and lower right there are two possible ideas:
  • White might choose the upper right because is more outward-oriented along the upper side than . As a result, White may expect that a white approach at b will be more effective than a play at , in developing White's position.
  • On the other hand, White may reason that the position along the bottom is symmetrical so that whoever plays first will have a natural advantage. On the other hand, the upper side is not symmetrical so it is less clear who will gain an advantage in this area. This is the basis for my choice to play . If I am able to settle the bottom on my terms, I am ready to see what Black will try on the top. After all, I chose the relationship at the top, not Black.

What do you think?

Kakari in the top left  

By the way, I like the kakari at for Black, given the stone.

A moral dilemma - Black 3  

The other part of White's strategy in choosing the 3-5 play in the upper left is the intention to answer with the one-space low pincer at .

The basic idea is to press Black hard and build positions on both sides, one at the top negating the influence of Black's hoshi in the upper right and the other combining with White's hoshi in the bottom left (developing on both sides. However, in practice there is a dilemma here.

In playing this at the 1k level on IGS, almost always (I have reached the point of above in probably 30 games minimum in the last year) Black answers at . This is called an inferior choice by Ishida's Joseki Dictionary (vol. 2) and I agree. Although there are alternatives for White to choose, in the simple variation shown White takes the corner and ends in sente. Black can not extend any further than (if even a, for example, White is left with the opportunity to play later). White turns next to deal with the right side.

The dilemma is that after encountering this same approach by Black so often, I now find myself using this strategy in expectation of an inferior reply from Black. Thus I have allowed myself to be seduced by the idea of a cheap advantage away from the original quite positive thinking (in my humble opinion at least :-) that got me involved in this strategy to begin with.

So what do you think:

• Should I give up this temptation and seek purity in some alternative strategy untainted by the desire for cheap advantage?
• Or should I give up and admit that I am a "coffee-house" go player at heart?

1. The Time-Honored Way  

First he tosses out this position in setting the stage...

"The standard black response has been the territorial play at (komoku). After Wh6, Black would play kosumi with , attempting to get the best of it with this strong shape. However, this would allow White to occupy the big point (oba) of , so White would have a lot to hope for as well."

From 1.6 Nirensei vs 5-3 Point

Which is completely different from how I've been looking at the situation for the last year or so.

2. Simple and clear - and interesting  

His main point, however, is that here rather than a "is simple and clear, and won't result in a loss, so I think it is very interesting."

2a Choosing the right play  

Go then presents his analysis of choices available including: - Why instead of a? (a is too slow)

- Why instead of the normal joseki move at b? (better balance)

- Why instead of the normal pincer at c? (because White is willing to let Black build a wall and wants to counter it from a distance)

- Why instead of the normal joseki move at d? (because d falls into White's plan of allowing Black to build a wall in gote, and then take the initiative elsewhere)

- If indeed Black d why should White use the submissive e instead of the normal joseki move at f? (because if Black responds correctly the "time-honored warlike joseki" of f followed by the cut is not interesting for White)

- Etc. - some of the analyses runs along for over 40 moves from this position.

"A Way of Play for the 21st Century" is all about different ways to look at Go. Nevertheless, this is one nice example (amongst many) of rejecting the joseki books and relying on an analysis of the whole position on the board and the opportunities that it offered.

--DaveSigaty

Moves 1-10  

White: Shindo Hikaru

Black: Hon Suyon

Moves 21-30  

We still haven't identified the original source of this game so if it looks familiar post what you know on Hikaru No Go/Games.

Widest path  

The widest path here from pro games is clearly enough , then to take up position.

Joseki choice  

There are not so many hits for here. But of those (I'm using GoGod) the two ones from the past decade go this way.

Therefore I'm not convinced this is losing much for Black.