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44PointLowApproac...

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LadderJoseki
44PointLowApproach

 

4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, pincer
  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: Joseki

[Diagram]
Initial position

The pincer B4 here may occur. White at a next is considered the main continuation, but there are other plays.


[Diagram]
Main line

These plays are still the main line, though increasingly B2 is played directly at B4. White plays W5 for ladder aji.



After these moves, Black needs a further play here. If the ladder works Black can play at b (and then will need to capture shortly). It seems, from pro games, that this is a subtle discussion:

  • this variation is played even when the ladder is bad for Black, and Black must play a now;
  • even if the ladder is good for Black, Black may anyway play a.

Naturally the evaluation of the position after Black at a must depend on the prospects in a fight if White's cutting stone escapes.

On the left side, black c might be a useful sente move, answered with white d.

[Diagram]
turning in

Just like when BC is high (see 4-4 point low approach high extension slide pincer), W1 is still possible, but the further variations are completely different. After W3, in this case the usual move is B4 here. The following moves allow little variation. In particular W7 at W9 (black answers B7) and B8 at B0 (white answers W8) are bad. After B0, white has two choices.


[Diagram]
Continuation (1)

W1 is one possibility. White takes corner territory while black gets strong influence. After B2, white usually plays elsewhere, but later she has W3 to W7 as a large follow-up.


[Diagram]
Continuation (2)

If white wants to avoid giving black so much influence, she can play W1 here. However, white's corner territory gets much smaller too - in fact, she even needs another move to be certain of two eyes.


[Diagram]
Black connects

B4 is possible as well. After this, white will connect under with W5. B6 at a is not good. White answers at b, and black is in problems. Instead black plays B6, after which the moves to W9 are most common. Note that in this variation, white rather than black takes the upper side.



[Diagram]
Other ways

The other ideas for White here:



[Diagram]
The tsukehiki variation

Black plays on both sides and takes sente. White stabilizes with a fair amount of profit. Black better treat BC lightly:[1]


[Diagram]
The tsukehiki variation

White has avoided being shut in, while occupying the 3-3 point. Black's two configurations lack a base.



[1] For another way to this position see 4-4 point low approach one-space low pincer, upper contact.



This is a copy of the living page "4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, pincer" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.