Tasuki Fuseki

    Keywords: Opening, Go term

Chinese: 对角布局 (duìjiǎo bùjú)
Japanese: - タスキ布石
Korean: -

A tasuki fuseki (or diagonal fuseki; cf. parallel fuseki) is one in which both players make their initial plays in diagonally opposite empty corners. This dispersal of the strength of each player's initial stones is thought to give rise to close-fought games. Well known examples include the regulation fuseki and cross hoshi; see also opposing 3-4 points. The pushing battle and counter-pincer joseki family becomes important for diagonal fuseki.

[Diagram]

A common tasuki fuseki

When Black plays 1 at komoku (3-4 point), White plays 2 in the adjacent corner facing B's open position, perhaps intending to use 2 to support an approach move at 'a' shortly. B now has the opportunity to play in the diagonally opposite corner from 1 (at 3 or another point close by). If W now plays at or around 4, the result is a tasuki fuseki.

[Diagram]

Not a tasuki fuseki

The first 3 plays are the same as above. However, instead of playing in the empty corner, White approaches the upper right immediately at 4. Black plays away (tenuki) in order to take the open corner himself with 5. White perhaps plays 6, having forgone the play in the open corner in order to have the opportunity to torment Black with her favorite taisha joseki :-)

This page needs wiki master editing.


WME is needed for all material below this marker. --unkx80

quick question: Is the presence of B3 as a ladder breaker going to cause white difficulty in her selection of the taisha joseki in the upper right?[1]


The term tasuki, meaning "sash", is by analogy to the kimono sash worn crossed diagonally across the body.

http://www.omatsuri.com/lib01/neb9.jpg


[1] It's hard to give a quick answer. I am no authority, but I think it would be interesting to discuss an example. Feel free to move this thread. Ladders may be considerations in tasuki fuseki, but the taisha is a bit of a digression. -Calvin

[Diagram]

Ishida Yoshio (W) vs. Rin Kaiho 1988

Calvin: There are actually many examples of pro games where the the double approach is made regardless of the situation in the opposite corner, so it would appear that black has no clear refutation. (Remember than the double approach doesn't mean the taisha is played). Ishida seems to have done okay playing this white+circle agains Rin Kaiho, because white won this game. According to Kogo's Joseki Dictionary, white should really have ladders to play this line, but which ladders? It says black can play a now to simplify the position. (Rin Kaiho played B8 instead.)

[Diagram]

Variation

Calvin: With B3, black is threatening to capture both of the marked white groups. Since the ladder works, white can't defend both sides, so he has to capture at a or play a ladder breaker at say, b.

[Diagram]

An early choice involving a ladder

Calvin: Here is another variation, where Kogo's says black needs a ladder to connect on the outside at B1.


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(OC) 2011 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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