BQM 179

Original position  

Chris Hayashida: In the discussion after the game, I didn't think or were proper moves, but I couldn't come up with a good reason why. I guess the shape seems overconcentrated to me. The marked stone and b seem redundant. He played expecting me to play at a, then he would play at b to protect.

If Black omits b, then I think there is a lot of trouble there. Are and mistakes?

Bad for White  

I know it's a mistake to answer with , since it "forces" Black to fix his shape at .

What actually happened  

Chris Hayashida: This is what actually followed. I think I was overly aggressive. I needed an extension somewhere around a, I think, and and are still weak. I don't have a good answer for black b.

Alternative  

Chris Hayashida: Maybe just trading for is good enough, and then I should take sente and play elsewhere (a or b for example.) What do you think? Is this a good result for Black?

unkx80: Fair result for both, but Black spent one extra move and loses sente. Compare with the following, which is also a joseki.

Andy Pierce: Black is losing here after , playing too tightly. Better to play at c instead IMHO.

A typical approach for Black  

Dave: Since the position is symmetric along the left side, a play there is not interesting for Black. In addition if we consider that the marked stone at the bottom is low, Black would like to start some action at the top. One typical sequence would be to play to provoke a response. The play at breaks the symmetry and draws the natural reaction at , settling Black's stones here. If White responds at the bottom, Black slides at the top.

Cho Hun-hyeon - Yi Ch'ang-ho, Kiseong 1994-01-31  

Dave: The elements of this position are similar to the one in this question. Black starts along the top and play proceeds in a reasonable fashion. Both sides settle their stones along the left.

Do not approach strength  

Bill: presents White with a problem. White doesn't really want to extend to because of Black's strength () in the bottom right corner. It is not so much that White is in danger, but Black's strength makes the bottom relatively small. For instance, suppose that White extends to a, and then later to b. Now what? White has no real threat against the stones. Therefore White's extension to b is not so good, and therefore the same goes for White's extension to a, and also for . That's why is a problem for White, even though it leaves a weakness at c.

I think that is playable, here. If , now makes a good base.

(This is not to disagree with Dave about Black's starting with a kakari in the top left corner first. That's good choshi, making better.)

White's problems stem from giving Black a strong position in the bottom right corner. The joseki there is well known for being somewhat unfavorable for White. Perhaps the following diagram preceded the one in question.

Prophylaxis  

anticipates later play on the right, either as given or followed by . anticipates - , supporting a keshi at a or an invasion at b. (I like a.) This is different from approaching a strong group that cannot be attacked and will not form a moyo.

Backing up further,

Ogeima kakari  

White is rather busy in the previous diagram.

- is a calm way to play without making Black's bottom right corner too big and strong.