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Four Four Point
Path: OpenInTheCorner · Prev: ThreeFourPoint · Next: OtherCornerPlays
Difficulty: Beginner
Keywords: Opening, Joseki
The corner hoshi strikes a balance between outward influence / potential for development and defence of the corner. The corner is not secure, but if black takes the corner (for example by invading at 'a'), white is guaranteed a large amount of influence. However, the high position of the stone means that good extensions can be based on it. As opposed to the 3-4 point, there are no urgent moves to be played to stabilise the hoshi stone. White will be more likely to play a far extension on the left or upper side rather than to play a second move near the corner.
Extending to e.g. the 6-4 point is not as good a move as completing a 3-4/5-3 shimari. Also, a hoshi/6-4 shimari does not completely enclose the corner, it actually leaves the corner open on both sides. Even a hoshi/6-3 'a' shimari leaves the 3-4 point 'b' and the 3-3 point 'c' open for invasion.
Approaches to the 4-4 point, when they are played, are usually played not so much as to attack the corner as to make a base on the side. A typical sequence is shown here, and shows how black defends the corner and extends on one side while white extends on the other side. White 2, in this diagram, is by far the most common kakari but in some circumstances 'a', 'b' or 'c' rather than 2 is correct. Extending on the other side (either with 3 here, or with 'd' or 'e') is the 'standard' answer, but there are several other possibilities as well.
However, it is also possible to play an attachment against the approaching stone, such as the old joseki sequence in this diagram. (Black often chooses to play 9 elsewhere.) There are also various other options, such as a pincer on the white stone from the direction of 8 in this diagram.
What is important is to envisage what shapes your stones will have after the sequence has been played, and to evaluate how this shape will work with your surrounding stones.
BillSpight: I don't know why go books persist in calling this a joseki. It has been known for over a century that B 9 is inefficient. B a instead is good. Maybe they think that B 9 is OK in a handicap game. <shrug> Path: OpenInTheCorner · Prev: ThreeFourPoint · Next: OtherCornerPlays This is a copy of the living page "Four Four Point" at Sensei's Library. (C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0. |