Kobayashi variants

  Difficulty: Expert   Keywords: Opening
[Diagram]

A common variant



The most orthodox play here may be Black at a (Kobayashi fuseki), but this way for Black has also been common.

[Diagram]

With 3-5 point



Top players have tried this black formation, too. Ideas for White from pro games are: at a, which meets with the taisha or one-space pincer; at b; or an interesting wedge variant at c (wedge - when the approach to 3-5 is possible, perhaps an idea of Yoda Norimoto).


[Diagram]

With a 3-3 point

Since this way of playing out a side with a white 3-3 point also gets a stone on the 10-4 point, it will be very like the Kobayashi pattern if White approaches the upper right corner. White's common next play is at a, as one would therefore expect.

[Diagram]

Using the third line

These plays by Black would have a similar meaning, but because of the invasion point at b, B1 is a little bit heavy.

[Diagram]

Making a base

This very secure pattern is currently being played by pros.

[Diagram]

Distant approach

This is also a pattern seen in pro games (played in 1990 by Yu Bin). O Rissei has tried it with B3 at a, and at b. In this case the invasion at the marked point is more of a worry for Black, because B1 is a heavier stone. It was also used in game 5 of the 58th Honinbo match 2003-05-26, by Cho U.


This is a copy of the living page "Kobayashi variants" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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