4-4 point one-space low pincer invasion, block

  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: Opening, Joseki
[Diagram]

Basic joseki

Black blocks at B4 if he has a stone near BC (however, see also: 44 Point One Space Low Pincer No Support Stone). Up to B8 we see a typical joseki: Black makes a wall facing the left side, while White gets eyespace and a small amount of territory in the corner. If the marked stone is not present, this variation is bad for Black. White then plays in this region herself, and thus effectively reduces the influence of the black wall. The connection B6-B8-B2 is rather thin, but for White to attack it at once would do more harm than good.


[Diagram]

Extension

With the combination of W1 and W3, White aims at the cut at W5. Black most usually defends this cut indirectly - either by strengthening his position on the upper side, or by closing off the left side like he does here. If White cuts with W5 (often she will wait a while before doing so), he accepts the challenge with B6 (pushing White along the fourth line with B7 is not good[1]). The moves to White 11 (at a) are one possible continuation.

[Diagram]

The old joseki

The old joseki, which is still played, was for Black to defend the cut directly with B1. The disadvantage of this move is that it leaves the large move of W2 as aji. If Black blocks with B3 at W8, White has a lot of aji here which might be used to invade Black's left-side moyo. But if Black draws back to B3 instead, White can make a rather large reduction of his territory in sente. Instead of W2, white could also play at W8.


[Diagram]

Slightly out of style

W4 is another joseki move, but not played as often as the previous two. The sequence to W10 is forced, after that Black can choose to build thickness with a or fight immediately with b. a is most common.

[Diagram]

Influence (6 connects)

After B1, this sequence is to be expected. White has sente, but Black's influence is large.

[Diagram]

A favorable fight

If Black plays B1, he should not forget the important exchange of B3 for W4. After B7, White is floating in the center, while Black is both strong and in a position to make territory on both sides. If White does not answer in the corner, Black can get a ko.

[Diagram]

Not afraid

Black should not be afraid of this W4. Black can maintain his connection to the outside world, while White still has to come back in the corner.


Author: AndreEngels

See also thickness example 1, thickness example 5.


[1] One should say, rather, that it might not be good. It is certainly played by strong players. Charles


This is a copy of the living page "4-4 point one-space low pincer invasion, block" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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