4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, 3-3

After the slide , black commonly plays at 3-3. is the most common continuation, and is the standard joseki mentioned in 4-4 point low approach low extension. If White omits , black can attack the white group. For variations on that, see: 4-4 point low approach low extension, slide, 3-3, tenuki.

Instead of , white also sometimes plays a, usually when white has a low solid position in the upper right, in which case would be too low. This variation is discussed further down in the section title high extension

Table of contents The standard joseki Miai plays Losing the base in the corner [1] Addendum High extension Black's follow-up

The standard joseki

This page aims to give a deeper discussion to this joseki.

Miai plays

Assuming there is some white stone or structure, say at . We will say that and are miai. In fact, is very big and gives the black corner a base.

(The main alternative to is Black a in the centre. The use of this play is discussed at 4-4 point low approach low extension, standard joseki, pushing in the centre. See also ^[1] below.)

Losing the base in the corner

For black to tenuki when is played is not a good idea. gains substantially in territory and sets up an attack. or a is the correct play, but black has not gained much territory or influence in this move. For to play at b is a dangerous choice.

Uberdude In fact this is a poor move, as is a. c is the most common answer, leaning on a strong group to come out. If you want to jump d is a good shape for this, it runs fast, aims at pressing on the group on the side and attacking at c. (50 hits on this shape (exlcuding the 2 space extension on the left, adding it makes little difference) in my GoGoD: 34 @ c, 5 @ d, 1 @ , 0 @ a.

RBerenguel I can't give a personal analysis on , but this is the move Sakata suggests in Suji and Anti-Suji of Go, Model 6: The one-point jump suji

If the ladder towards the lower right is good, then , , and will steal all of Black's territory, rendering eyeless. Note the important assumption of the working ladder, which we illustrate in the subsequent diagrams. However, white can always choose to play a ladder breaker somewhere in the lower right, so the danger still lurks.

This diagram shows the start of the sequence that leads to a ladder. Note that and is a tesuji: if is played at a, then black b captures the two white stones by double shortage of liberties.

The ladder refers to . If this ladder works for White, then Black collapses totally.

Therefore, if the ladder is not good for Black, Black may try to resist by making the hane at . This may be seen as a trick play which breaks the ladder. The correct response is to connect at . Black can only descend at , and after Black has gained nothing.

Below we discuss some finer details of this variation.

This is a failure diagram to show why the direct capture of with does not work.

Playing without pressing at first is a mistake for White. After , if White a, then Black b, then is reverts to the previous diagram, where White is captured.

Connecting with here allows Black to capture two White stones, and this result favours Black. Note that the turn at is important: if is played directly at , then at a seals the Black group in.

[1] Addendum

Here we discuss the exchange of and , followed by tenuki.

Later, it is possible to answer with , securing the base. However, the exchange of and strengthens white, losing the possibility of any invasion in white's two space expansion on the top. Also, white gains significantly in the exchange of and (because if black plays at , black can aim at a to capture a white stone). So the price to pay for the tenuki is considerable.

The good thing is, the invasion at is no longer possible. Black applies the , tesuji mentioned above but this time it works without the precondition of a working ladder. The reason is, with , black can play at , and white is finished.

High extension

White can also play like this, which is usually done when white has a low solid position in the upper right.

For example: If the position in the upper right is like this (the result of a common joseki), is better high, because of the low solid position of the stone. If were a two space extension, white would have four stones on the third line in a row, and would have a very low position.

invites Black to invade at a, after which white can use the power of effectively in an attack on the invading stone. If black does not invade, white may build her position with a move at b or c

If black invades, we can expect something like this sequence.

Black's follow-up

If Black has a stone at , he can pressure the White formation. There is extensive coverage of this position in the book After Joseki

Here, Black takes territory

Black acquires good influence