IGS 5k*. Trying to improve. Slowly making progress.
Currently re-examining:
Lots of gems in this one.
I have put:
aside for now to let them digest a bit, but will go back to them later.
Done for now with:
Too advanced for me:
I have been (for a little while now) playing white exclusively. I think I was about two stones stronger with black than with white and am slowly remedying this defect. I actually find now that I enjoy playing as white more than as black. Currently messing with this fuseki idea for white. I will happily initiate the taisha should black enter at a. The idea is for the 35 stone to constrain black's development on the top and for the kakari to constrain black's development on the bottom. I take comfort thinking that even having a bad plan is better than having no plan. :)
Comments and/or suggestions are welcome.
Rich Hi Andy; we share almost exactly the same taste in books! I'm still trying to digest Kajiwara, and reading the other two in between.
I definitely agree that almost any plan is better than none. A couple of things strike me about the fuseki above - and please take this as discussion material rather than criticism, I'm not strong enough to say what's right or wrong.
Firstly, I'd play a line higher; my reasoning being that it's less vulnerable to a pincer, which would be favourable for the black influence on the right, and it would also be a step better-positioned (IMO) as a ladder-breaker if and when the Taisha starts.
Secondly, I'm not convinced by the 3-5 :P It spoils the upper side, but black has the right side hoshi. Also, black can come in on 3-3 and take the corner, and you'll then end up taking low territory on the upper side or gaining influence that faces black's upper right. At least, so goes the theory - at my level I have my doubts... :)
Andy: with
I expect and want a pincer by black. I will then invade at 33. I would also be happy for black to play 33 under the 35. I want influence to counter the influence of black's sanrensei. See also A44And35Strategy for a more extensive treatment of this interesting topic.
Rich: It is an interesting topic, and again I tend to feel at least 12 stones too weak to discuss fuseki meaningfully :P Of course, any of the Dan-level players discussing it could handily wipe the floor me, not to mention what Go Seigen would make of it!
To my eyes, though, considering an even game the invasion looks good for black as it allows him to build even more influence by blocking right, not below:
White has sente to make the enclosure, but black's also cut into the lower side. There are other joseki, of course, but they all give black influence. I think the side hoshi makes a pincer tricky to manage; and black also has the attachment joseki. Anyway, I'll see if I can persuade a clubmate to try it out! :) How's your success rate with the pattern so far?
Tamsin: White is always at a disadvantage in fuseki because she is a move behind at the point in the game when each move is enormous. For that reason, she will never be able to put together a plan that doesn't have drawbacks of the kind Rich points out. But, imho, that isn't the issue. The benefit of making a plan is that it helps you to steer the games in directions you feel comfortable with, instead of merely allowing the game to drift. Andy's strategy may objectively be no better or worse than any other way of facing the sanrensei opening, but at least it gives him a way of creating the sort of game he feels most at ease in.
http://www.paralog.com/wiki/?AndyPierce