3-4 point low approach two-space high pincer hazama tobi

Two-space high pincer  

This is a severe response to the two-space high pincer, played only when White has a position to the right. Responses seen in pro play, in decreasing order of popularity:

• a: This tsuke is played over 70% of the time^[1], and will therefore be the main topic of this page.
• b for a top side and c for the left, accounting for a little under 10% each.
• d: Tenuki.
• e through h are all quite rare.
• z, the presumed weakness of the diagonal jump, is not played.

Main Line (continued)  

So the normal result is a rather large corner for Black. White takes some outside influence, and can take sente. White can reinforce her position with a, but often this move is left for later. Of course even after white a, black can still cut at b and fight.

This variation was created by Kajiwara Takeo 9 dan, a great joseki innovator known for his severity in local fights.

Ladder  

If the ladder does not work for white, it is possible for black to play here. The ladder appears after .

Without a ladder (black 11 at a)  

If the ladder does not work, white has to compromise with and here. However, black's territory in this case is large.

Alternative  

Later, Black can exchange a for b, but it is usual to turn elsewhere at this point.

Sente  

The reason that is considered sente is shown here: After white is painfully cut in two.

Painful  

Capturing the stones with here is hardly better. Black has made thickness on the upper side, and if later black attack with a, the white group will be no more than a liability.

Withdrawing  

A third option for white after is here. , taking the corner, and , securing connection and breaking black's, are to be expected. The sequence to is one variation, but a is a keypoint for both sides.

Peaceful  

is a simple move, going for the left side. White forces with and to get some stability in her group. After this, fighting will probably shift elsewhere, for example to the upper side. White can also continue locally, for example at a (playing a without to is not good, because black b then takes a large corner).

An alternative is for white to make thickness towards the top with c; after that a white extension on the left is a logical follow-up.

Going for the side  

aims for the top side, but it also strengthens white, who might now attack the corner. defends against that, but means that white is given the large move at a.

Going for the side  

tries to build up the top side, but also gives white thickness that can be used to attack the corner. defends against that, but now white can play the big move at a.

Really going for the side (10 at a, 11 at b)  

This variation, played between Sugiuchi Masao (black) and Miyamoto Yoshihisa for the 1978 Tengen is often given as a joseki. White gets a large territory, but black's thickness towards the top is impressive.

Black's yose (4 at #)  

The corner is not fully white territory though. In the game, black played the sequence in this diagram and corner possession was reverted. The difference between this sequence and a white move at is 21 points, and thus among the largest yose sequences known.

Yoda Norimoto (white) vs Cho U, 3th November 2004  

This variation was seen in the 6th Round of the 29th Meijin title. After black tenukied, to approuch the corner at the topright of this diagram. White ignored this and played A. SmartGo has it in its game collection, with the earliest game Takao Shinji vs Abe Yoshiteru, 25th Gosei, round 1 (1999).

It is not a classical joseki - seems to be bad shape, putting the pincer stone on an excellent point. But it has been played a few times in the past five years. The continuation looks inevitable, or at least natural.

Overplay #1  

See BQM 547 for more on this particular line of play.