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34PointHighApproach

 

3-4 point high approach, two-space high pincer, outside attachment
Path: 34PointHighApproachTwoSpaceHighPincer   · Prev: 34PointHighApproachTwoSpaceHighPincerKeima   · Next: 34PointHighApproachTwoSpaceHighPincerTwoPointJump
  Difficulty: Expert   Keywords: Joseki

[Diagram]
Outside attachment

With the attachment at W1, White is actually challenging Black to a fight. Black can reject the challenge with a, or accept it with b or c. In particular Black c (the Magic sword) can lead to long and complicated variations.



[Diagram]
Lower hane

After W3, there are two variations for Black. B4 leads to a position that is also known without the pincer. White can cut at W5 to take the corner, or at W7 to take the outside with a ladder.


[Diagram]
Extension

B4 is rare when the pincer has not been played, but in this position it is quite common. White attaches at W5, and Black defends at B6 or B8. Because of the pincer, White has little room to make a base here, so jumping out at W9 is common, after which B10 stops White's hopes of a counter-attack.


[Diagram]
Other variation

Charles The other way is B1 in response to WC, which is natural suji, not allowing atari. Then W2 is agreed to be better shape here than at a which suffers Black b. This line occurs in pro games.



[Diagram]
Upper hane

Cutting with B2 is a fierce play, and White might well suffer greatly if she makes a mistake here. B10 threatens both a and b.


[Diagram]
Upper hane

Exchanging White a for Black b is too great a loss, so White gives atari with W1, sacrificing two stones. Black gets a good amount of territory on the upper side; white's compensation is that she has sente, and thus played one stone less in this corner.


[Diagram]
White's alternative

If White is not willing to give Black as much territory as in the previous diagram, W9 can played at W1 here instead, and take the corner, giving Black thickness. After B6, White might exchange White a for b to stop from playing a in sente; this does however strengthen Black even further, and Black still has the sequence Black c, White d, Black e and White f as a forcing sequence on the top.



[Diagram]
Magic sword

B2 looks like bad shape (after W3, White has the hane at the head of two shape), but it is still joseki. Black invariably cuts with B4, after which the position is known as the magic sword of Muramasa, a joseki which shares with the taisha and the onadare a reputation for complexity. See magic sword for this position.



Path: 34PointHighApproachTwoSpaceHighPincer   · Prev: 34PointHighApproachTwoSpaceHighPincerKeima   · Next: 34PointHighApproachTwoSpaceHighPincerTwoPointJump
This is a copy of the living page "3-4 point high approach, two-space high pincer, outside attachment" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.