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Referenced by
KobayashiFuseki
SmallChineseFuseki
SidePatterns

 

Preferring to Pincer
    Keywords: Opening, Joseki

This page picks up on ideas given on the Kobayashi fuseki and mini-Chinese pages.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Pincer to prevent the Kobayashi

When Black approaches with 1 it is normal for White to defend the corner with a or b. Then Black can extend back to the middle of the side to make the Kobayashi formation. The pincer at 2 is seen in fewer than 10% of pro games.


[Diagram]
Diag.: After the normal sequence

Supposing the normal development shown in the right-hand corner, White has sente to approach in the left-hand corner with a play such as 1. In this position the area of marked points has become important. It isn't immediately clear how White exploits it, though.



[Diagram]
Diag.: Pincer to prevent the mini-Chinese

Again a pincer to prevent Black building up a mini-Chinese formation along the side. Once more this is seen in professional games, but isn't highly favoured (no more than 10% of examples).


[Diagram]
Diag.: Joseki

This is a main variation. White plays 7 to gain the maximum on the right side. White's next plays on the other side would be a or b, which are good shape but gote.



There is nothing here really to support the common amateur idea that playing a pincer confers an advantage, though. In both cases Black takes territory early in White's corner and pros like profit.

[Diagram]
Diag.: As played by Kato

A quite different attitude is shown by this counter-pincer strategy, played quite often recently by Kato Masao. Black starts a running fight on the top side. This suits Kato's style but should be considered a difficult choice.

Charles Matthews



This is a copy of the living page "Preferring to Pincer" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.