Protect Both Sides in the Corner
Keywords: EndGame, Tesuji
The hane-connect in this diagram is a well known endgame play.
White will now usually defend at a, b, or perhaps c.
However, in the corner, there is sometimes a better option.
Setup
Consider this corner.
White plays hane and connects, and black must defend the cut now.
How?
Wrong answer
After , white can play another hane-connect,
-
, in sente. Black needs
(or b) to defend again.
Right answer
The right answer is to play . This not only defends against the cut at a, it also makes the hane at b gote for black.
With , black protects both sides with one move.
Caution
The technique shown only works in limited situations where is not too far away from the cut, and is close to the other hane.
Some examples where it fails: