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Three-Four, Ikken Kakari, Low Small Pincer
Path: PincerPath   · Prev: 34OneSpaceHighApproachTwoSpaceHighPincer   · Next: 35PointLowApproachOneSpaceLowPincer
   

[Diagram]
Diag.: Low small pincer

There are three well-known answers to the low pincer. Moving out with a, attaching to 3-4 with b and attaching to the pincer stone with c. Ishida says that d is experimented with.


1. Moving out: kosumi

[Diagram]
Diag.: Moving out

Black seems to have two standard answers: the extension to a and clamping with b.


1.1. Extension

[Diagram]
Diag.: Moving out

White can now attach at a or press at b.


1.1.1 Attach

[Diagram]
Diag.: Joseki

White 8 is tesuji.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Follow-up

White has an interesting ko to follow up with, if Black plays tenuki after the previous diagram. If Black a, White b makes a picnic ko. If Black c, White a is humiliating for Black.


1.1.2. Press

[Diagram]
Diag.: Joseki

White gets influence along the left side and sente. Black's profit in the corner is considered superior locally, so White 3 has to be effective in the context of the whole board.

See BQM34. Labelled 'obsolete joseki' in the Kobayashi Koichi Dictionary. Black 2 leaves bad aji here, White 3 seems to be aji keshi therefore. Nowadays 2 is at a.



2. Attachment + cut

[Diagram]
Diag.: Joseki

Black cuts at 2 and White 3 is forced. Next there are the old continuation at a and a rather new one at b.

For Black 2 at b see lower down.



2.1. Stretch

[Diagram]
Diag.: Extends

When Black extends, White 2 wedge is tesuji.



2.1.1. Atari from above

[Diagram]
Diag.: Joseki 1

This is one standard sequence. At 7, White can choose this peaceful variation: she can also turn at 10, depending on a ladder (see below). Black gets corner territory and influence on the left side. White gets influence on the upper side and sente.

John Fairbairn::Isn't this the wrong order of moves? Surely White defers 7 until Black has played 10?

Charles Matthews John is correct. The order of plays shown is a well-known mistake seen up to shodan level.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Variation: the ladder question

At 7 in the previous diagram, White can turn at 1 here. Everything depends on the ladder at 6.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Variation: ladder question

If the ladder doesn't work for Black, instead of playing a he must extend at 1. After White 4, there is a peaceful play for Black at b and a fight at a.


2.1.2 Atari from below

[Diagram]
Diag.: Ladder question

Here, it depends on whether White can cut at a and capture the black stone in a ladder.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Joseki: The ladder works for White

If the ladder works, Black submits with 1 and 3, getting a low position but keeping sente.


[Diagram]
Diag.: The ladder works not for White

I'm not too sure, but I think this variation is too good for Black. (variation by Dieter)


[Diagram]
Diag.: The ladder works not for White

Black crawls on one side but gets ahead on the other (variation by Dieter)


[Diagram]
Diag.: Variation at 3: two [ponnuki]

This variation occurs in the 11th Tianyuan title match, game four between Ma XiaoChun and Chang Hao. Locally, White's profit is considered better than Black's influence along the left side but Black takes sente.



2.2. Atari

[Diagram]
Diag.: Joseki

Against 1 and 3, White 4 is tesuji. An exchange takes place with Black taking corner territory and sente and White influence towards side and center. The result is considered slightly better for White locally but playable for Black in many circumstances.


3. Attachment + hane

[Diagram]
Diag.: Black plays on both sides

This is a well-established line too. Next White plays a (simple), or b, c which are both complex.

Recently there have been experiments with Black 4, also.



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