Tengen 2003 game 1 Question 1
Dieter: What's so urgent about and
that White can postpone the basic instinct of
?
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/5/131b7b96c8d8d04d61bcc5fcf47dc319.png)
Without Yosumiru
Klaus: I think, the first question we must ask ourselves is: Would Black play in this diagram without the exchange at x, y?
It looks kind of slack too me!
If black would not choose that move, we must investigate, what difference the ,
exchange in the original diagram makes. But Black is stong here already, so it might not matter to strengthen him further.
dnerra: I agree, tewari seems to work here. is a little slow, and instead allowing the peep at a would make it a big mistake. Now note that the exchange White x - Black y doesn't help black a lot. (Black would now reply at z I believe.) Instead, it rather helps a white invasion at b. Anyway, I am sure Mr. Tenuki would like
and
in the original diagram :)
Andrew Grant: My guess as to what's happening here: If White plays , allowing
, Black has a powerful double attack on the marked group and the
-
group. White has to deal with the marked group first to avoid this.
is natural, to avoid being surrounded - imagine a white stone on the point of 5.
is a forcing move, threatening the peep at 7 (if Black connects at a, White plays b) which also helps White's top right group out to the centre. After this White can play 8 without worrying about the top right too much.
John F. Let me suggest a totally different way of looking at this. I infer that the original question means: why did Black answer at 5 (or 7) instead of taking the juicy looking point 8.
Under QARTS theory, Black's top group will be attacked and (having room for one eye) cause him damage to the tune of -10. It can hardly be said that Black 8 is worth 10 points in compensation. Black's thickness is nullified by the thickness White gets by attacking the top group, and territorially the extra Black area staked out by 8 on the right is far from secure.
Other points are that White's top group is weak and mustn't be allowed to settle, and Black's groups either side of 8 are either safe or light so there is no urgency here.
dnerra: And QARTS theory punishes white for playing with debts of I'd say 10-15 points.
John F. If you are saying the usual 20 points less 5 or 10 because Black is rather weak below 8, I'd agree.
dnerra: Yes. For example white can pretty much make an eye in sente simple by sliding down the right side.
Also, Black 5 provides help to the lone Black stone on the left. This is a VERY common tactic - a move to the centre providing a sanctuary or safe haven for other groups to run to. Yet it doesn't have a name (does it?) and I think it should have. Anyone want to suggest one? A sanctuary stone? Or (topically) asylum centre?
dnerra: Hmm, doesn't look like a Statue of Liberty?
Dieter: Tewari or not, everybody seems to agree that Black at 8 in the last diagram would be slow. If it is so slow, so unimportant, then why does White invade there in the first place with ?
I agree too, which is why I didn't expect at all. So instead of questioning White's surrounding manoeuvers at
and
or Black's resistance at
and
, maybe we should find a reason for
.
dnerra: But protecting against an invasion is often slower and worth less than invading -- because invading tends to be sente; maybe better said as keeping the initiative, while as defending looses it.