3354 Enclosure
Keywords: Opening
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/10/554a3491eb95248ab43775a7870d4323.png) | 3354 enclosure |
This enclosure is common in pro play, to develop the 3-3 point (preventing the 3-3 point shoulderhit). If the 5-4 point is played first, it looks unambitious[1] to take the 3-3 point rather than make the small high shimari; and that development is rare in pro games.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/17/6cfbe6bff7aaff5b67d3faa16ae79206.png) | Probe |
White here is the normal corner probe. Black is the joseki answer most used in practice, but a and b are also seen. Note that this position also occurs in a typical 5-4 point tenuki joseki, by transposition.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/1/8967cc5d39c02aa07c2310327d02a122.png) | Forced? |
Black in answer is rare, but has been played by Ishida Yoshio (1982-11-25 against Iwata Tatsuaki). In that game Black had the marked stone in place. In general the exchange - looks like Black being forced (kikasare). This formation occurs also with the 3445 enclosure.
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/23/f88141fac64bcfcd5fbcb7682b4434b5.png) | Only as a ko threat? |
In contrast here would only be played as a ko threat. Even then it is rare (one example in the Kajiwara-Kitani game in The Direction of Play). If Black answered at a that would be a local loss for White (i.e. the threat could be considered loss-making); in particular because the chance to play the probe discussed above is now gone.
Bill Spight suggests Black at b as alternate answer (since Black at a feels like kikasare).
It seems, though, that between strong players will only be played when it is a ko threat that Black can't afford to answer; when White will cut through.
[1]
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/8/9f47ef9ed8fae99c6a751810c1cf3702.png) | A special case |
From a game Rui Naiwei-Hua Xueming in 1978. Black played to secure the corner (rather than a) because White already occupied the 9-3 and 3-9 points.
This is a copy of the living page
"3354 Enclosure" at
Sensei's Library.
2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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