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NewYearSRengo2002

 

NYR2002 White 50
PageType: OngoingGame    

This situation arose in New Year's Rengo 2002 after W played 50 at 2 in the diagram below:

I think W50 should be at a (the marked stone in the diagram below), which is almost sente. To play now in the upper left corner is too small. Lucky
dnerra: Can you explain a little (I played W50)? I see now that W 'a' isn't sente, but how could it then have been sente at W50? I.e., what would be the follow-up to W50 at 'a'?

So what happens if W50 is played at the marked stone below?

[Diagram]
Diag.: White Plays 50 at the marked stone


DaveSigaty:

  • If B plays tenuki (for example at 1), one thing that W can do is hane and connect with 2 and 4. The 3 corner stones are in some trouble with weak points at "a" and "b".
    • How should B proceed here?
    • Are there better ways to start with 2? (dnerra: Note that if W2 is the best play to follow-up, then there is no difference to the game, so this is the crucial question.)
  • If Black instead answers in the corner with 1, where should he play?


Lucky: I'll try to explain what I am thinking. First I should say that W50 in the game is not absolutely wrong, it's not a mistake. But it's too easy going and reveals some simple logic, 'if it's sente why not play it?' Not all sente moves should be played immediately because sometimes they destroy some more interesting continuations (which may become possible only later).

[Diagram]
Diag.: The game

In the game white already made the W1 - B2 exchange. It is OK to continue with W3, suppose black answers with B4. Now the exchange W1 - B2 becomes a two or three points loss for white. Also black is stronger (think about the position without W1-B2).


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black tenukies

White 1 and 3 are one possible action, I think not very attractive right now. Black is alive on the left side and defends the corner with B4 and B6. He will not die.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black tenukies 2

I was thinking about playing directly at W1. B2 is out of the question.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black tenukies 3

So black should play something like B2. White then strenghtens his upper side group with W3 - W5. If B6 next W7 and black's corner group has no eyes. Probably black will conect with the left side (playing where the W7 stone is) but white has a very big yose play in the corner next.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black tenukies 4

Another nice variation is to play directly W1. This seems still posible.

I said the white connection is 'almost sente' because is not completely sente. Black can play tenuki. But then white has a very good sente follow up :) Quite bigger than blacks play on the right. Now I spoiled the game :)



This is a copy of the living page "NYR2002 White 50" at Sensei's Library.
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