4-4 point low approach low extension

Very common  

This is the most common^[1] response for Black, when White approaches at , if you look at contemporary pro games. Playing on the third line is territorial, and the variations that follow are mostly to do with Black's initial 4-4 point making territory in the corner. This play has been seen increasingly in the past decade.

After , white's choice of extension to play depends upon the situation in the upper right corner, with a–d being the most common:

• a, the slide into the corner, is the most common, and emphasises corner territory.
• b is common if white has the upper right 4-4 point.
• c is often part of the mini chinese fuseki
• d is common if white has the upper right 5-3 point nearest this side.
• b and d are both common in the kobayashi fuseki.
• e 44 Point, Low Approach, Low Extension, 3-3 invasion
• t 44 Point Low Approach, Low Extension, Tenuki

Table of contents a, white slides into the corner White attaches

Table of diagrams Very common White slides into the corner Standard Variation after the slide Variation: contact play Contact Tewari Tewari (2) Tewari (3) Old joseki Not very common joseki Moves 1 to 7 Contact

a, white slides into the corner

White slides into the corner  

is standard. can be played at:

• a, simple
• b or c, to develop on both sides

Black sometimes plays tenuki after , considering a and d as miai for living with his stones. If d is not available, the tenuki is dangerous for black.

Standard  

These further plays constitute a standard joseki - perhaps the most common such pattern of all, now.

See also 4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, 3-3.

4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, 3-3 tenuki explains about the position in which White omits - this is generally bad - and Black attacks at b.

4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, squeeze discusses black 2 at b, aiming for influence.

4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, outside attachment discusses black 2 at c, a modern, aggressive variation.

4-4 point low approach low extension, 3-2 contact play on the slide discusses 2 at a, which also isn't joseki.

Instead of the slide to 1, White can extend back on the side immediately, or play tenuki here. See 4-4 point low approach low extension, tenuki for detailed analysis. The tenuki play allows Black to attack with the diagonal attachment; evaluations of the severity of the attack seem to have changed in the 1990s, and nowadays White often does play tenuki. It is unusual for White to invade directly at the 3-3 point (see 44 Point, Low Approach, Low Extension, 3-3 invasion ): since Black's corner is not so large, this doesn't have high priority.

Variation after the slide  

The major variation occurs when Black blocks on the upper side, allowing White to play at a. Now Black is changing plan, giving up the corner for outside influence.

See 4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, pincer for this line. Also 4-4 point staircase joseki for a complex variation.

Variation: contact play  

There is also Black 1 here (see 4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, attach), an old idea in the case of the one-point jump, but here really only played often from 1995 onwards. It is an attempt by Black to develop on both sides.

White attaches

Contact  

It is also a standard manoeuvre for White now to play , perhaps in response to a black move in the direction of the circled point. White will play this way to build up strength or even to settle a group here. There are some well-known joseki variations: see 4-4 point low approach low extension, contact.

Tewari  

He pointed out that, with the marked stones on the board, this is an even position. Then is a good move.

Tewari (2)  

Charles In a sense, don't you need to argue more: that here isn't any more ideal?

That anyway would make the Go Seigen reasoning more interesting, in line with some of his other iconoclastic ideas. Making this large low enclosure looks good by classical, territorial standards.

Tewari (3)  

Bill: Well, the 3-3 is even more territorial, having fewer weaknesses than the large low enclosure. It does seem a bit low, however.


Myself, I do not see a clear preference for any of these plays.

Old joseki  

You might see this... in games its very old joseki not played very much.. i used a and b for 11 and 12

Not very common joseki  

this is also old joseki, if white decides to go elsewhere then black can pincer a, white will respond with b. connecting at c for black does not work well.

Moves 1 to 7  

Sorry if this doesn't belong here, but I was wondering, what is the object of ? Is he treating lightly so that if black invades between he can play shimari on top right? Or, if black kakari's on top right, he can play the kosumi tsuki joseki forcing W into a cramped position?

Blake: This is called the mini-chinese.

 

rokirovka: One opponent played against me instead of extending on the top. I had already played at the middle left star point, so I was strong on the left and probably should have just played tenuki here, but I followed the advice to play if White omits the extension along the top. What is the correct reply to ?

 

As you can see, the continuation went badly for me in this corner. After , I admitted defeat in this corner fight and decided to cut my losses, playing elsewhere. My marked stone and are horribly weak (the ladder after Black at a, White at b, was bad for me), and White has a strong position on the top and good influence toward the center.

So, be careful with the advice about attacking with a pincer at the marked stone if White omits the extension along the top. If White plays a different useful move such as his marked stone here instead of the extension, direct attack still may not work.

 

You could try the peep at , which white should resist with rather than connecting with a. Then jumping to attacks the white stones on both sides.

Contact  

Hoping someone can say why white playing is a bad move please.