B2 Bomber Josekis

    Keywords: Humour
[Diagram]

Making a B2 from the 4-4 point, Part A

Since the 4-4 point occurs very often, it is imperative to know how to turn the common play into a B2 Bomber. Notice that black has to play a seemingly bad move: a kosumi-tsuke without a supporting stone on the right to make white heavy. However...

[Diagram]

Making a B2 from the 4-4 point, Part B

Black plays another kosumi-tsuke (!) While this allows white to settle herself on both sides, black gets a B2 Bomber in return. Locally, this is a loss for black, but since it makes strategic sense, the result can be considered equal. See the following whole-board analysis for example:

[Diagram]

Moves 5-14, with hoshi-based B2 in play

According to the joseki above, black is supposed to make a three-space extension from the wall to get an equal result. However, white can now bring the B2 bomber into action...

[Diagram]

Moves 16-17: The bomber takes off...

[Diagram]

Moves 18-19: The bomber starts attacking

[Diagram]

Moves 20-21

[Diagram]

30 seconds after Move 21: Ouch.

[Diagram]

Result of the bombing: W+Res.

Needless to say, black has no option but to resign.


MrTenuki: This was taken from Bush (w) vs. Saddam (b), 2003. Can black (another player, please :-) play a better defense in this situation besides preventing the creation of the B2 bomber in the first place?

Taisha B2Bomber

[Diagram]

Taisha Bomber

7 is a famous trick play in this line, 8 is a common mistake, White wastes no time in playing at 9. This is a great way to avoid the taisha.

George Caplan There is an even more common opportunity to use the decisive properties of the B2Bomber in actual games. Forgive my first attempt at diagramming, but here goes.

[Diagram]

A common reduction technique

Takemiya presents this technique in "Enclosure Josekis" He specifically cautions against 9 at "a" because the postion will become "overconcentrated" and because of the peeps available to White.

Obviously, this old book is outdated - the time of "shape" and "light" is over - today we play for power and results.

[Diagram]

The 21st Century Approach

In fact, B1 here is a trick play, trying to induce the peeps that Takemiya warns against. The result? White actually forces Black to make a powerful B2Bomber formation, at the cost of only one stone!

White's shape here is horrible - the four stones that capture black's first move are ok, but the 3-3 pt stone seems redundant and the rest of White's plays are too close to Black's thickness or hopelessly scattered.

Black, on the other hand, again, with one brilliant sacrifice - forms a perfect B2Bomber - all in what was originally White's position!

Now, we always should be careful evaluating results without seeing the rest of the board, but it is hard to deny the power of Black's position here. Absent White having a B2Bomber of his own, in the near vicinity, this has to be a success for Black.

It is indeed fortunate for Takemiya's well deserved reputation that "Enclosure Josekis" is out of print and hard to find.

[Diagram]

The mistake is to allow the trumpet connection.

unkx80: The mistake here is actually to allow trumpet connection at B1. Since White a or b will only get captured, there is no way to prevent Black from playing both a and b to form the all powerful B2 bomber.

[Diagram]

Avoiding the bomber

Alex: Right. White has no choice but to play this way. Black gets to capture one stone with B9, but after W10, there is no way for him to make a bomber.


This is a copy of the living page "B2 Bomber Josekis" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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