![]() StartingPoints Paths
|
Three Four Point
Path: OpenInTheCorner · Prev: ThreeThreePoint · Next: FourFourPoint
Like the 3-3 point, the 3-4 point (called komoku in Japanese) more or less secures the corner. At the same time, it also starts taking a look outward. It forms a kind of middle ground between the corner-oriented 3-3 play and the more outward-oriented 4-4, 5-3 and 5-4 plays. The enclosure of the corner is less strong than that of the 3-3 point, and the addition of a second stone is useful to make it more secure.
A corner enclosure created like this is called a shimari. The most common shimari with the 3-4 point are the 5-3 point (1 in the diagram) or the 5-4 point ('a' in the diagram). The 6-3 point ('b')is also often played. It claims a larger amount of territory, but at the same time the claim itself is weaker. In some circumstances, black prefers to stake a claim to the upper side instead with a move like 'c' or 'd'. Because the follow-up move to a 3-4 point opening is also a good move (it both stabilises the corner, claims territory and extends the influence of your stones) your opponent will often try to stop you from making the extension. Such an approach move is called a kakari. The simplest way of stopping you from playing on a certain spot is by playing there himself. Depending on the whole board position, a play on the 5-3 point is as good a kakari as your shimari on that point would have been. Several joseki can develop from this position. Other obviously possible kakari can be the 6-3, 5-4 or 6-4 points.
One thing to remember is that making a kakari such as black 1 in the diagram (from the wrong direction) only forces white to play 2, a move he wanted to play anyway. This is not a good idea in general, but there are still positions where it is used, for example when playing against the Chinese fuseki. Still, if there is no special reason to do so, approaching the corner from this direction should be advised against. Authors:
Path: OpenInTheCorner · Prev: ThreeThreePoint · Next: FourFourPoint This is a copy of the living page "Three Four Point" at Sensei's Library. (C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0. |