BQM 584

  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: MiddleGame
[Diagram]

Sequence in question

tapir: In a recent game (still going on) I came up with the following sequence as White. I looked it up in a database and found it is sometimes played by professionals. I know many players of my strength play W4 instantly, which I don't like, so here I tried to induce it in a manner that helps me on the outside.

Is this reasonable?

Is this overplay?

Slarty: I think Black should seriously consider tenuki, because B3 too early could be a little slow. Reasonable would depend on the board - it's a fast way to play, not the normal local idea.

tapir: Why would you play B1 in the first place when you believe the follow up is too early?

Slarty: B1 W2 is likely not a bad exchange for Black. White has a problem of how to continue. Enclosing at 3 is too slow. Usually the follow up is a, which is a big area but still thin - Black has a chance to live at b, can cut, force from the corner etc. Choosing to live with B3 is definitely good, but not as appealing as the initial B1. After W2, B1 is light, and the temperature dropped, so there could be something to do elsewhere. There are loads of times you might make an exchange before it's time for the follow up, like playing an approach move. More simply though, it's going along with White's plan; as you suggested, when white does this, the W2 B3 exchange is designed to be good for White.

[Diagram]

Sequence in question

Dieter: to me B3 is a good move in itself. To provoke it with W2 seems a thank you move for Black. Next, the sabaki tactics of W4 and W6 show that White has created problems for himself in what used to be a balanced position.

This would perhaps be ok if there were substantial offset generated by W2. But the keima on the outside is thin, so we can speak of the kind of influence that kikashi stones have. Altogether I don't think this is a balanced result.

tapir: I admit, I have trouble distinguishing thank you moves from inducing moves (and thin from light). Still with W6 at c I would be fairly confident as is.

[Diagram]

Continuation 1

In this continuation, White is under a lot of pressure.

[Diagram]

Continuation 2

A permutation leading to the same result

[Diagram]

Continuation 3

This W4 is unbearably submissive. Black can continue to harass White with a or b.

[Diagram]

Continuation 4

White must almost resolve to a ko. This doesn't seem to do justice to the original position.

tapir: It seems to me that Black has far more to lose here. (Interestingly in the three professional games I have with this position Black always connected instead of B1.)

[Diagram]

This unlikely ko would be easier for Black (but now White could live conveniently by W2 at W4).


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