[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]

StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About


Paths
StatisticalAnalysis

Referenced by
Joseki
PleaseReviewMe
HandicapGoDiscussion
NonJosekiExercise4

 

4-4 low approach
Path: StatisticalAnalysis   · Prev: LowKnightSMoveApproachToMokuhazushi   · Next: BQM31ModernDoubleKakari
    Keywords: Problem

[Diagram]
Diag.: Small Knight Approach

This White 1 is the small knight's approach. It is absolutely dominant among approach moves to the 4-4 stone. Based on the games recorded in the GoGoD CD, it appears in actual play about 50 times more frequently than the high approach move at a, for example.


The most frequent replies to this approach move in professional play have been (in their order of frequency in GoGoD CD):

--DaveSigaty

Also:

Dave Well, yes and no. I am afraid I was rather careless in the original search above. The situation is significantly influenced by whether or not Black as extended along the left side. These are the actual counts for the top ten continuations by Black from 1990 to 2002 as shown in the July 2002 version of GoGoD where there is no stone near the left side star point. Notice that the attachment is only the tenth most common line

[Diagram]
Diag.: Continuations


Statistics:

4505 matches (1071/3434), B: 49.7%, W: 50.2%

Ba: 1945 (1936), B51.0% - W49.0%
Bb: 919 (902), B50.7% - W49.3%
Bc: 653 (630), B47.9% - W51.8%
Bd: 551 (521), B46.8% - W53.2%
Be: 98 (97), B49.0% - W51.0%
Bf: 85 (78), B42.4% - W57.6%
Bg: 75 (69), B57.3% - W41.3%
Bh: 35 (27), B54.3% - W45.7%
Bi: 23 (23), B43.5% - W56.5%
Bj: 20 (19), B40.0% - W60.0%

Black may also play tenuki here. That allows White to play a second approach on the other side, called a double kakari. A double kakari of that kind is more severe on Black than in the many variation where Black plays a pincer here and White replies with a double kakari. -- Charles Matthews

Dave Charles is right of course. In the search above there are another 339 cases where White plays next, making tenuki the 5th most common continuation by Black.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Question

In my games Black 2 is often played . I have not found this move in joseki dictionaries. What is wrong with this move? What is the best answer?

Uwe


[Diagram]
Diag.: Answer

White usually plays 3. The purpose of this move is to prevent Black making good shape, at the same point. Then Black usually extends to 4, a or b and White extends to 5 or c. This position is considered slightly preferable for White as the corner is still open for an invasion at the 3-3 point.

But if Black already has a stone in the region of 5 , the kosumitsuke Black 2 is recommended.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Different situation

Here White has to undertake something to settle her stones while the black stones flow naturally from both sides.

See Joseki as a source of bad habits.



May I ask, given that all knights are the same size in chess, why can the prefix small be justified in this title?


The "small" designation serves merely to differentiate it from the "large" knight's move. In fact, "knights move" is an anglicized term for keima, a Japanese word that refers to the formation without relating to knights or chess. Other languages also have specialized terms. Would anyone would like to elaborate? Kirk


Aw, a sensible answer. I was hoping somebody would say - Don't be silly, you have different sizes of sets. It does make me wonder though, why don't we use the word keima in preference to knight's?


Uwe: In fairy chess the figure which moves like a ogeima is called a camel. What about making a difference between knight move (keima) and camel move (ogeima) ;-)


[Diagram]
Diag.: 44-36-56

Recommended response to 44-36-56 is a, b, or ...? -- Frs

unkx80: a would be common. This kind of play often leads to competing moyos.



Path: StatisticalAnalysis   · Prev: LowKnightSMoveApproachToMokuhazushi   · Next: BQM31ModernDoubleKakari
This is a copy of the living page "4-4 low approach" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.