Thinness-aji example 1

   

A position is sometimes described as thin, not because it is vulnerable as such, but because the opponent has future moves that somehow threaten the position.

[Diagram]

Thin

In this position for instance, W1 is somewhat thin. No way that Black can push through at a immediately, but ...

[Diagram]

Aji

B1 now serves two purposes: it is an extension of the corner, but also threatens a. B1 uses the aji of a.

[Diagram]

Thick

Instead, White can play W1, making the threat of a almost non-existent. Now a Black move around b will be single purposed?, and White has free hands to deal with it.

[Diagram]

X Thin

Incidentally, White has an answer to B1 at W2, serving the double purpose of defending against the cut at a and threatening to jump into Black's spehere of influence. This is one of the reasons why Black will not play B1 at once, but wait for the whole board situation to develop so as to make best use of White's aji.


This is a copy of the living page "Thinness-aji example 1" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2014 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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