3-4 point low approach three-space low pincer taisha

  Difficulty: Expert   Keywords: Joseki
[Diagram]

Taisha, low pincer

After B9, White's options include the descent of a and the push at b: see "Descent variations" and "Push variations" sections below. The play at c is a classical joseki.

Earlier branches can occur here: for example W2 is currently often played at W4.



Descent variations

[Diagram]

Descent variation, low pincer

At least two non-trick-move continuations have been worked out with the three-space low pincer.



One begins with Black b, the other with c; each is shown below.

[Diagram]

Continuation 1

Black has sente, but his center stones are heavy.

Charles The recent games I've seen all have W4 at the squared point.



A black play in the direction of a might be urgent. This continuation appears in Whole Board Thinking In Joseki, as does a similar one in Ishida's Joseki Dictionary.

[Diagram]

Continuation 2

Black finishes with a and achieves a much lighter shape than in continuation 1 above.



At the same time, White has less definitive eye shape on the outside. The cost of these advantages for Black is a loss of some corner territory. Perhaps this makes continuation 2 the better choice, in general. This continuation appears in Ishida's Joseki Dictionary.

--SnotNose

Push variations

[Diagram]

White turns



This is the main line variation where W1 turns, instead. Charles


This is a copy of the living page "3-4 point low approach three-space low pincer taisha" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About