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NYR2002 White 50
PageType: OngoingGame
Keywords: MiddleGame
This situation arose in New Year's Rengo 2002 after White played 50 at 2 in the diagram below:
So what happens if White 50 is played at the marked stone below?
In the game White had already made the White 1 - Black 2 exchange. It is OK to continue with White 3; suppose Black answers with Black 4. Now the exchange White 1 - Black 2 becomes a two- or three-point loss for White. Also Black is stronger (think about the position without White 1-Black 2).
White 1 and 3 are one possible action, I think not very attractive right now. Black is alive on the left side and defends the corner with Black 4 and Black 6. He will not die.
I was thinking about playing directly at White 1. Black 2 is out of the question.
So Black should play something like Black 2. White then strengthens his upper side group with White 3 - White 5. If Black 6 next, White plays 7 and Black's corner group has no eyes. Probably Black will connect with the left side (playing where the White 7 stone is) but White has a very big yose play in the corner next.
Another nice variation is to play White 1 directly. This still seems possible. I said the white connection is 'almost sente' because is not completely sente. Black can play tenuki. But then White has a very good sente follow-up :) Noticeably bigger than Black's play on the right. Now I've spoiled the game :) This is a copy of the living page "NYR2002 White 50" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |