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Don't use thickness to make territory
Path: GoProverbs   · Prev: PlayAwayFromThickness   · Next: MakeTerritoryWhileAttacking
  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Proverb

This is one aspect of the proverb play away from thickness.

[Diagram]
Black's direction is bad

The advice is not to play short extensions such as B2 here, which gains only a handful of points. Black's position to the right is very thick - it can only give its full strategic value if Black uses it in a dynamic, fighting plan.


[Diagram]
Correct direction

Black should play from the other side, with B2 here. Then W3 looks like a mistake[1]: B4 to attack is good. Perhaps White should play W3 at B4, staying away from thickness herself. In any case the territory on the upper side is important mostly as a base for White's group, not for the few points it represents.



The fundamental ideas here for Black's use of thickness are thickness should be used for fighting and Black will take profit elsewhere, in this case in the left corner.

[Diagram]
Analysis

Another useful way to analyse is to say that Black already has some points such as the circled ones because of his outside strength here. A black play at a is overconcentrated because it is only claiming points to which Black already has a right.



Of course it is acceptable to make territory with thickness if

  1. it is a big territory; or
  2. it is the endgame.

What one should not do is to make small, unambitious territories based on thick positions early in the game.

Charles Matthews


[1] Bill: W1 also looks like a mistake.

MK So white should start at B2? Then Black goes at W1 and makes a perfect extension from three stones wall. Is W1 a mistake?

Bill: The rule of thumb about extending from a wall does not apply to a wall with eye space, only to a wall that needs an extension. Black's corner needs a shimari more than his wall needs an extension. W1 allows Black to make a shimari.

[Diagram]
Shimari cum extension

Perhaps Black's ideal play is B1, combining shimari and extension. The six space extension is good, as it does not leave White's invasion, W2, room for a two space extension after B3.


[Diagram]
White's play?

As for White's play, I think that each of a - e is worth considering.



Charles Here White c can be considered normal, to seek quick life. If White d, the intention would be to play the nadare (which would go into a small nadare line, assuming strong players). White e is a special technique, probably dependent on some ladder(s).



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This is a copy of the living page "Don't use thickness to make territory" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.