BQM 185

What should I do?  

Chris Hayashida: I started with the Chinese Opening, and when White approached at I pincered with . White then played and started the nadare when I answered at .

Game continuation  

Chris Hayashida: This is what happened in the game. It was a complete disaster. The post-mortem shows that was a mistake, as the ladder starting at a is broken by the marked white stone.

The group with and ended up being a nakade, killing the group at the end of the game. Figures from kyu play, huh? :)

What should I do?  

Chris Hayashida: So the question is, what should I do now? a doesn't seem to work. What about b or c? d seems to lose sente.

I need to end in sente, so that I can extend to e.

It seems like I can get a good result, as White's marked stone will be too close to his wall.

Solid connection  

I like the solid connection, . It restricts White's options. As you point out, is ill placed. You don't get sente, but after you can treat lightly and tenuki, I think. (Although looks pretty good. ;-))

Sente not likely.  

unkx80: Since you pincered with after is played, theoretically it is possible for White to play . If you treat the series of moves after as a series of Black-White-Black-White exchanges, then you should not expect to get sente to play at a. As one of my lecturers like to say, there is no free lunch.

Chris Hayashida: I didn't really think about it until White had already committed to the avalanche. If White pincers with , Black might get 'b''. I can't tell who this favors, though. Is this bad for Black?

Magic sword-ish  

Chris Hayashida: I asked at the club, and one of the 7-dan there also mentioned that I could play a magic sword-ish joseki. I seem to remember that White traded a for b, but I'm not sure that it's necessary. I don't know this joseki well enough to know if can be at c. This seems like it might be a good result for Black.

Charles can be tsukehiki here.

Light play pattern  

This looks like a time to play and , for light shape. The nadare when both the stones are there - I don't think so.