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Handicap Fuseki Question 1
Path: Handicap   · Prev: HowToWinWithA9StoneHandicap   · Next: ChessWhizAgainstLavalyn
    Keywords: Opening, Question

I am a bit afraid that it may be a very silly question, but in this position (3 stones handicap), is any one of a-d clearly better then the other ones or are they simply different games?

[Diagram]
Where to play?

unkx80: Are you referring to B2 or W3?

iff I am interested in the next move for white (W3). I thought that maybe there is some sort of difference (with regard to corner-coordination, urgency of approaching a san-ren-sai or whatever) that would make one move be a little bit better than the rest (a la the "move 2 lost the game" dictum in TheDirectionOfPlay).

My answer for both B2 and W3 is that all of a, b, c, d look equally good for me, just different games.

B2 can also consider playing at e, just more aggressive, that's all.

kokiri if white plays on the star point, i'll pretty much always preserve the symmetry by playing at f. it's probably less workable than other moves, but it semms to lead to interesting games.


[Diagram]
something else

Klaus: What about this? A classical wedge enables white to open a second stable fighting unit.

Kushi: How to answer 4 then? The top stone will live, making the area uninteresting for black. But with 4 black has made a big moyo, and is poised to make profit from an attack on either 1 or 3.


[Diagram]
To easy for black?

Klaus: Personally, I don't like situations like this, because white needs a second stable group, but it won't be easy to find a good place for it.

Dieter: A handicap game is too easy for Black. That's the paradox about handicap go. It's usually considered bad attitude to count on your opponent's mistakes but in a handicap game you have to rely on them (outnumbering your own).

The proper way to play small handicap Go is building stable groups, try to overconcentrate his position and only slightly overstretch your own, and win a lot of points in the endgame. Depends on stylo too. Here the san-ren-sei is certainly invadable: you may not like it but usually Black doesn't like it either to be invaded by a stronger player.


[Diagram]

Jesse: I might try a high wedge, and then if Black replies at the top, tenuki to approach at a.



Path: Handicap   · Prev: HowToWinWithA9StoneHandicap   · Next: ChessWhizAgainstLavalyn
This is a copy of the living page "Handicap Fuseki Question 1" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.