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3-3 Point with 4-4 Point
    Keywords: Opening

Thought I would share a fuseki that I have been using a lot lately. I was losing often as Black when I started trying this new fuseki. I'm not sure if it is already on Sensei's Library but would appreciate comments from stronger players on it. (I (Browncow) am about 10k AGA.)

[Diagram]
Browncow fuseki

After this White usually plays at a, which is also an ideal point for Black. If White does play a then b seems an equally good point, working well with the shimari to the right. Please anyone, feel free to comment on this idea or present weaknesses in my thinking. -- Browncow

exswoo: Since the main idea behind a 3-3 opening is to settle a corner in one move, wouldn't Black want to approach White directly with Black 5 instead of an extension?



Andrew Walkingshaw (5k, UK):

Black 5 looks a little slow to me:

[Diagram]
Possible transposition

If Black plays a, the position transposes to the previous one. However, it's pretty clear that Black would rather have that stone at either b or c here (this is a kind of very simplified tewari analysis).

I'd wedge a point lower on the right as White, expecting something like the following to happen:


[Diagram]
Vaguely plausible continuation

As White, I'd regard a and b as miai, and be happy that there are very serious invasion points at y and z: Black really hasn't enclosed any territory there yet. Black p might be bigger than 5; I'm not sure, but I like the look of 5.

I'd be expecting a follow-up something like:


[Diagram]
Vaguely plausible further continuation

White has a nice framework on the left, and the "enclosure" in the upper right still has major weak points around b and c. The invasion at a is less serious for White, who can invade the corner and then pull out the central stone without doing too much damage, (among other plausible continuations).

I don't think any of this is devastating for either side, but White's position is definitely pretty reasonable. I'd be very happy to play White here.


[Diagram]
Vaguely plausible continuation, again

Yes, the situation is not looking so bright under your play. My opponents have usually played much more passively, allowing me to develop quickly. Here for instance, playing a non-urgent approach to my 4-4 stone at a or b. Or sometimes even more passively, building their moyo on the left at a. Thanks for the help. Under a slightly more aggressive (intelligent) pattern White, not Black, seems to get the advantage.


[Diagram]
Similar position

Do you, or anyone think that Black gets a better result by playing like this and allowing White to invade between Black's two pairs of stones around a? Or is this even worse, forcing Black to defend both pairs at once.

Thanks for the help. -- Browncow


[Diagram]
More consistent

I think the marked black stone on the upper side is preferable. Then Black can really take the upper right corner to be territory. Black can later play at a or b and develop in a balanced way. Charles Matthews



This is a copy of the living page "3-3 Point with 4-4 Point" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.