4-4 point 3-3 invasion double hane

  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: Joseki

Table of contents Table of diagrams
Double hane
Taking the corner
Evaluation of the position
Corner aji (1)
Corner aji (2)
Influence and/or initiative
White's counter hane
Joseki
Continuation
Double hane
Slightly vulgar ?
To take the outside

Initial position

[Diagram]

Double hane

This variation stems from the 4-4 point 3-3 invasion page. Instead of extending at a as in the usual sequence, Black can play the double hane at B3. Black will do this if he is prepared to take the corner at some extra cost or, if White resists, fences in White in the corner, or to keep the initiative.

Variation 1: taking the corner

[Diagram]

Taking the corner

A straightforward variation is when W1 cuts and captures what has become a cutting stone. Black can then sacrifice the cutting stone and capture the corner. The double hane has played the role of cut the side you don't want.

[Diagram]

Evaluation of the position

[Diagram]

Corner aji (1)

If WHite gets the marked stone in place, W1 will either link up as in the diagram or capture the marked black stones.

[Diagram]

Corner aji (2)

The other aji is that W1 and W3 threaten to extract the marked stones in the same way as above, so that W1 becomes almost absolute sente. This in itself is not so bad, but it could be a minus if Black's reason for not following the standard sequence was that the top side is not interesting.

Variation 2: influence and/or initiative

[Diagram]

Influence and/or initiative

W7 @ BC. White must not play W5 at B6 or Black will take the corner as in the above, while increasing his influence. In this variation, Black can now take the initiative to play elsewhere, extend his wall around a or increase his influence towards centre and sides at b

Variation 3: White's counter hane

[Diagram]

White's counter hane

If Black plays the double hane, Black has to be prepared for this W1. White intends to give up the corner in exchange for a position on the top. In an emergency, however, instead of B2 Black may play at a; the likely outcome is that he gives up a bit more territory in the corner in order to maintain his outside wall.

[Diagram]

Joseki

After W3 in the previous diagram, B1 is the joseki move, reaffirming the unity of the black stones. After B5, White can secure a base with a move like a or play tenuki.



The presence of extra stones

[Diagram]

Continuation

After the variation "taking the corner" White will most likely continue with these moves. In most cases, when White invades at the 3-3 point, Black has stones on both sides, at or around the places shown here. Black's left side stone has lost much of its value after this sequence.

[Diagram]

Double hane

Black would probably like to play the double hane of B1 in this diagram, but here the aforementioned aji of the marked white stones come into play. White can retake the corner - or worse.

[Diagram]

Slightly vulgar ?

In White's counter hane variation, this atari play is recognised as joseki, but is highly sensitive to stones on the upper side, for example at a or b in thhe following diagram.

[Diagram]

To take the outside

These plays occur in pro games. When Black plays B3, White will eventually have to live at e. Before that White has a chance of pulling out the marked stone with White c, Black d and White continuing on the third line for a while. The books teach that this is good for White if Black has a stone at b, but poor if Black has a stone at a.

If White lives immediately at e and Black tidies up by capturing at c, Black will be thick anyway (possibly slightly overconcentrated).

There's an early example in Chapter 1 of Beauty and the Beast.


This is a copy of the living page "4-4 point 3-3 invasion double hane" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About