4-4 point 3-3 invasion joseki

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For a first view of this Joseki, see 3-3 Point Invasion. Players for whom this discussion goes too deep are advised to read that discussion instead. An overview of SL pages about the 3-3 point invasion is given on All About 33 Point Invasion.

Table of contents

Advanced 3-3 Invasion Discussion

The 3-3 invasion behind a 4-4 point is one of the fundamental operations in go. It can take place at any time from the beginning of the middle game to late in the endgame as a speculative invasion. Whether it succeeds, and the correct line for both players to take, is much affected by any nearby stones and the existence of extensions from the 4-4 stone.

Overview

[Diagram]

The 3-3 point invasion

After W1, Black will block at B2 or W3. Which way to choose is an important, immediate decision for Black.

The general rule here is to block on the wider side.

After this, Black a hane is the basic joseki, leading to the fundamental variations hane-stretch (see below) and double hane.

Jumping away with Black b is a more modern variation, trying to get sente. Black c is an uncommon way to play.

Tenuki at any point in these moves is likely to be bad.[1]


The Basic Joseki: Hane then Stretch

[Diagram]

The basic joseki

Playing hane at B1 and stretch at B3 are a calm way of playing. Black accepts ending in gote and takes a magnificent wall in return. Although White has sente this result is in general regarded as locally bad for White because of Black's thickness.

White therefore should not invade at the 3-3 point too early, but only when a kakari from the side is already less interesting. Black should not play B5 at a: see 3-3 Point Invasion for White's answer.

W2 must be played before W6. [2]


Double hane variations

[Diagram]

Double hane

Please see 4-4 point 3-3 invasion double hane.


Hane and Inside Hane

[Diagram]

A new technique

A novel technique in pro games in the past decade [4] is to play B1 here first in preparation for the double hane.[3] The intention of this move is to get extra thickness by shutting white off from both sides.

[Diagram]

Inside hane

The inside hane at B1 is indeed a third possibility to consider in this position (after B7 and B3). The order of W4 and W6 is moot, although the order given here gives slightly more room for variation: Black can exchange black a for white b before blocking at B5, and white can play W6 at W8, giving up prospects in the center in exchange for more aji on the upper side.

[Diagram]

The result

With this result White has sente but Black has been able to shut off both sides.

Summing up on this idea: White has lived quickly, and left some outside aji by playing white+circle. Black's influence is going to work well with a stone at any of a, b, c and Black has successfully avoided the variation in which White makes a ponnuki on the upper side. Black has become quite thick.

Temporary Note?: Is Black thick, or does White have aji? The presentation is a little awkward, if not contradictory.

tapir: Can't it be a bit of both? White has a cutting stone she can put into motion later -> some funny business, Black is quite strong on both sides even then. In professional games it is mostly seen with a black extension already in place on both sides.

[Diagram]

Resistance

White can resist black's plans by playing the atari at W2 here, then continuing with W4 here or at a. However, B5 is a big move in either variation, denying white's group eyeshape in the corner and thus keeping it weak.


Hane and Cut

[Diagram]

An interesting (hamete) option

B1 is another possibility which is quite interesting. What is the purpose of this move and how should White react? See 4-4 point 3-3 invasion joseki, hane inside cut. By the way, there is an important ladder involved. this page for a reference


Defying Conventional Wisdom - Black at b

Now at 4-4 point 3-3 invasion, jumping away.


[Diagram]

A rare move (5 tenuki)

This B1 is played only rarely, and I do not know whether there is any standard joseki defined. In a game for the 1993 Myeongin title, Yu Chang-hyeok played tenuki after W4. Yi Ch'ang-ho later exchanged W6 for B7, and W8 for B9.

Here W2 at W4 is also possible, then Black plays at B3 and White has shape problems.


Further Reading


Crimson : I have a question - I don't know if it fits in the discussion. You need a clear area to succesfully invade at san-san, I believe. Can you please provide examples of what is clear enough and what isn't? Also, you don't want to get invaded at san-san when the middle game is about to be over, because you can't use influence much after the middle game. So, should I waste a move at the middle game to protect san-san, or should the corner be strong enough to stop the invasion at the end of the opening? I would also like to know which approach I should take when my opponent invades at san-san and the are around the corner is strong. Should these questions be moved to the less advanced page?


[1]

[Diagram]

Tenuki is bad

Under no circumstances should Black play tenuki at this point. No point elsewhere can be large enough to compensate for allowing W1.


[2]

[Diagram]

Changing the order

If White tries to reverse the order in the 3-3invasion, Black may be able to answer W3 with B4 in the diagram "Changing the order". This lets Black shut White into the corner (particularly as 'a' is Black's sente). White ends up with a smaller corner than in the joseki, and Black may be in a position to make territory on the left. The disadavantage for Black is the aji of the cut at 'b'.

See 4-4 point 3-3 invasion, W reverse playing order for details.


[3]

This seems to be applied only in cases where Black has a stone at a, b or c; that is, exactly when the crawling fight mentioned at 4-4 point 3-3 invasion double hane would go badly for Black.


[4] As with so many novelties it has been seen much earlier, Kajiwara Takeo played (invented?) it as early as 1958.


This is a copy of the living page "4-4 point 3-3 invasion joseki" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2014 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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