3-5 point distant low approach

  Difficulty: Intermediate   Keywords: Joseki

BillSpight: In ancient games of a couple of hundred years ago, you would see this:

[Diagram]
Distant low approach to 3-5  

The usual response was B2 at a; but sometimes at b. W1 may be the best approach play in certain circumstances. See OngoingGame2.

[Diagram]
Comparison  

The 3-3 play is the obvious response to the distant approach. However, if Black as here starts in the corner with the 3-3 point, and White makes the low approach W2, B3 looks a little slow. To me that suggests that the symmetrical 5-3 approach to 3-5 is an acceptable way. Nonetheless, it has fallen out of favor.

dnerra: On the other hand, White would usually not approach a 3-3 stone with a low approach 3-3 point low approach. In the diagram, B3 might be a little slow, but W2 is too close to the very solid black position.

So W2 probably needs another move added now, probably a two-space extension at a. My impression is that Black has secured a little more territory than White with his two moves. (Everyone is welcome to disagree here!). So the conclusion would be that W2 is a special strategy dictated by surrounding positions.

For example, W2/White a might be an ideal expansion from an enclosure in the lower left. Or (in a later stage of the game) White could have very a strong position in lower left, so that she is planning White b instead of White a as a reply to B3.


DaveSigaty: I have had this played against me several times. Regardless of what the pros think, I believe that it is a viable approach at the amateur level that prevents Black from trying anything tricky.

(This much moved from 3-5 point.)


Charles A pincer, of course, is unexpected.

[Diagram]
One-space high pincer!  

This unconventional pincer B1 was played a couple of times by top players (Yamashita Keigo, O Meien) in 2000.

[Diagram]
Joseki?!  

In both cases this happened.


How about the 'very distant low approach'?

[Diagram]
35113 enclosure  



Since W1 invites the very good play B2, this play is very rare. There are some classical examples of W1 played, effectively as a wedge, in the presence of black+circle.

In this case W1 at B2, B2 at W1 might look ideal for Black.

[Diagram]
35113 enclosure  

All of the marked plays are found in pro games. In modern go the plays closer to the corner seem to be preferred.


3-5 point distant low approach last edited by CharlesMatthews on August 18, 2003 - 14:41
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