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BQM 30
Path: HandicapGoPath   · Prev: Game33   · Next: GetStrongAtHandicapGo
  Difficulty: Dan level   Keywords: Joseki, Question

I (IGS 2k*) played a five-stone handicap game against a local 5 dan, and he decided to play a rather nasty move in a corner sequence. I could of course have chosen a simpler variation myself, but his move 4 was a real curve ball (although anything outside Ishida is always hard for me). We briefly analyzed the corner after the (very short :) game, but couldn't really come up with anything good for Black.

[Diagram]
Difficult joseki or trick sequence?

The game continued something like this:


[Diagram]
Game continuation

I didn't want to play 5 for obvious reasons, but couldn't find better moves at that time.


[Diagram]
Black 'a' and 'b' interesting points?

Now I am thinking of something like Black a to protect against the cut and the ladder, and perhaps at b to threaten to capture the marked stones. But the move order (and the right moves as well :) is not clear. It is clear that Black 5 in the previous diagram was bad - I knew it when I played it, but couldn't really figure out anything better either.

Any ideas anyone? (Or preferably a clearcut solution :)



[Diagram]
Solved?

I analyzed the position a bit more myself and and came to a conclusion, that Black must cut, since in the (Ishida) joseki variations White defends the cutting point.


[Diagram]
Solved? (continued)

After these moves it looks like Black has to sacrifice the marked stones? Corner life and death is not my forte, so... (White plays 2 to reduce the number of liberties of the three black stones).


[Diagram]
Solved? (continued 2)

I fail to see how Black could live with the marked stones, so perhaps the following is best Black can do. At least he is very thick.



[Diagram]
Not solved?

Funny how the mind works, now I see the interesting move of Black 5, and who knows where that will lead...aaargh... I guess I'll never be more than a 2k*...

Ah, this seems to be the best for Black, and bad for White. Finally. I have come to this conclusion but unfortunately the full solution is too long to be included in the margin and it is already past 3 a.m. local time, so perhaps I'll just say that I came to the 2k* conclusion that White cannot now play at b; and a gives Black a magnificent result. Work out the variations by yourself, I am too tired.


[Diagram]
Not solved? (continued)

I don't see what 'magnificent result' you are seeing after white 1. There are a few variations here, but all of them end with white capturing the three stones, and black having more cutting points than he can handle.



BillSpight:

What is wrong with the simple solid connection?

[Diagram]
Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A1)

After Black connects, White 2 goes after Black's stones, and now Black 3.


[Diagram]
Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A1a)

This is a typical continuation. Black retains aji in the corner.


[Diagram]
Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A2)

White 1 takes with good aji, but loses sente.


[Diagram]
Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A3a)

If White 1 - White 3 take two black stones, Black 4 is too good.


[Diagram]
Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A3b)

If White 3 threatens Black's stones, Black is happy to make a deal with Black 4.





Path: HandicapGoPath   · Prev: Game33   · Next: GetStrongAtHandicapGo
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(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.