4-4 point 3-3 invasion joseki
Table of contents | Table of diagrams The 3-3 point invasion The basic joseki A new technique Inside hane The result Resistance An interesting (trick play) option A rare move (5 tenuki) Tenuki is bad Changing the order |
Advanced 3-3invasion Discussion
For a first view of this Joseki, see 3-3 Point Invasion. Players for whom this discussion goes too deep are advised to read that discussion instead.
The 3-3 invasion behind a 4-4 point is one of the fundamental operations in go. It can take place at any time from the beginning of the middle game to late in the endgame as a speculative invasion. Whether it succeeds, and the correct line for both players to take, is much affected by any nearby stones and the existence of extensions from the 4-4 stone.
Overview
After , Black will block at
or
. Which way to choose is an important, immediate decision for Black.
The general rule here is to block on the wider side.
aLegendWai (9k? KGS): I would rather say we should block a side where the supporting stone is not too near (because of over-concentrated) or not too far (because of easy invasion). So we shuld say, "Try to block on a side where it is not too narrow or too wide." For details, see my comments in "block on the wider side."
After this, Black a hane is the basic joseki, leading to the fundamental variations hane-stretch (see below) and double hane.
Jumping away with Black b is a more modern variation, trying to get sente. Black c is an uncommon way to play.
Tenuki at any point in these moves is likely to be bad.[1]
The Basic Joseki: Hane then Stretch
Playing hane at and stretch at
are a calm way of playing. Black accepts ending in gote and takes a magnificent wall in return. Although White has sente this result is in general regarded as locally bad for White because of Black's thickness.
White therefore should not invade at the 3-3 point too early, but only when a kakari from the side is already less interesting. Black should not play at a: see 3-3 Point Invasion for White's answer.
aLegendWai (9k? KGS): White reverse the playing order seems bad. [2]
Double hane variations
Now at 4-4 point 3-3 invasion double hane.
Hane and Inside Hane
A novel technique in pro games in the past decade is to play here first in preparation for the double hane.[3] The intention of this move is to get extra thickness by shutting white off from both sides.
The inside hane at is indeed a third possibility to consider in this position (after
and
). The order of
and
is moot, although the order given here gives slightly more room for variation: Black can exchange black a for white b before blocking at
, and white can play
at
, giving up prospects in the center in exchange for more aji on the upper side.
With this result White has sente but Black has been able to shut off both sides.
Summing up on this idea: White has lived quickly, and left some outside aji by playing . Black's influence is going to work well with a stone at any of a, b, c and Black has successfully avoided the variation in which White makes a ponnuki on the upper side. Black has become quite thick.
White can resist black's plans by playing the atari at here, then continuing with
here or at a. However,
is a big move in either variation, denying white's group eyeshape in the corner and thus keeping it weak.
Hane and Cut
![[Diagram]](../../diagrams/1/ac1f22e09706baf8c15d03d942ed5eb2.png)
An interesting (trick play) option
is another possibility which is quite interesting. What is the purpose of this move and how should White react? See 4-4 point 3-3 invasion joseki, hane inside cut.[4] By the way, there is an important ladder involved.
Defying Conventional Wisdom - Black at b
Now at 4-4 point 3-3 invasion, jumping away.
This is played only rarely, and I do not know whether there is any standard joseki defined. In a game for the 1993 Myeongin title, Yu Chang-hyeok played tenuki after
. Yi Ch'ang-ho later exchanged
for
, and
for
.
Here at
is also possible, then Black plays at
and White has shape problems.
Further Reading
- 4463 enclosure 3-3 invasion
- 4464 enclosure 3-3 invasion
- 364463 enclosure 3-3 invasion
- 364464 enclosure 3-3 invasion
- 464464 enclosure 3-3 invasion
- 3-3 Point Invasion which peeps at the tiger's mouth
Crimson : I have a question - I don't know if it fits in the discussion. You need a clear area to succesfully invade at san-san, I believe. Can you please provide examples of what is clear enough and what isn't? Also, you don't want to get invaded at san-san when the middle game is about to be over, because you can't use influence much after the middle game. So, should I waste a move at the middle game to protect san-san, or should the corner be strong enough to stop the invasion at the end of the opening? I would also like to know which approach I should take when my opponent invades at san-san and the are around the corner is strong. Should these questions be moved to the less advanced page?
Author(s):
- Andre Engels
- Some structure added by Dieter
- Charles Matthews
Material moved to separate pages by Charles.
[1]
Tenuki is bad
Under no circumstances should Black play tenuki at this point. No point elsewhere can be large enough to compensate for allowing .
[2]
W plays the reverse order
Paul Clarke, 2dan: If White tries to reverse the order in the 3-3invasion, Black may be able to answer with
in the diagram "Changing the order". This lets Black shut White into the corner (particularly as 'a' is Black's sente). White ends up with a smaller corner than in the joseki, and Black may be in a position to make territory on the left. The disadavantage for Black is the aji of the cut at 'b'.
See 4-4 point 3-3 invasion, W reverse playing order for details.
[3]
This seems to be applied only in cases where Black has a stone at a, b or c; that is, exactly when the crawling fight mentioned at 4-4 point 3-3 invasion double hane would go badly for Black.
[4]
NB This is not a joke! This move was shown to me and several other Belgian players by Guo Juan, 5p. I remember having seen it in a pro game, but I can't remember which one.
--Alain