BQM 263

Is this a trick?  

Calvin (AGA 11k): Is this hamete or just bad?

The natural move.  

It seems normal to play like this. Can black refute it?

Going for the avalanche  

Here's an idea I've seen in a few high-dan games.

Ladder block/ko threat  

The reason I feel in the original pattern can't be good is because this move is often used by white as a ladder breaker or ko threat. So the position in the first diagram is the same as if black ignored this threat. Am I missing something? -Calvin

Black weakens himself  

Bill: provokes . Now is weak and the White stones are strong. Furthermore, Black is cut in two. White can be happy with this exchange.

It is natural to attack Black's weak stone, but one danger is to end up capturing it on a small scale. If White gets too little by capturing it, Black will be able to regard it as a sacrifice. The exchange, - , is bad. White does not have to capture to gain from it.

That having been said, the gain is not all that big, nor is the subsequent play all that easy. I posted a suggestion that I am now not so happy with. <sigh>

Danger ahead  

Bill: Sometimes it is easier to say what you don't like than what you do. Let me illustrate the danger I was talking about.

is a natural, strong response. further weakens , but it looks inefficient. However, if and were not there, then it looks OK, and the exchange of with favors White.

Heavy play  

Bill: is heavy play. White can be satisfied with attacking Black's heavy stones.

Too small  

Bill: The danger comes with a play like , which threatens . If White prevents that with , White has captured on too small a scale, and ends up overconcentrated.

excellent shape  

Here - gives white marvellous shape in the corner.

complicated fight  

This leads to complicated fighting but it seems white can hold her own.

Evading the danger?  

crux: Maybe this is better than at a? This way the / exchange seems bad for Black.

Bill: The pincer, , seems natural and attractive.

Trap  

Bill: Black can set a trap with - .

Falling for it  

Oops!

Avoiding the trap  

Bill: gives Black an empty triangle. If , puts pressure on Black's corner. (If Black protects on the top instead of , White continues a severe attack against Black's heavy stones on the left.) This looks good for White, but still tricky because of the weakness of the stones.

No trap, but not so easy  

Bill: - set no trap, but put up stiff resistance. is a shape play, giving Black an empty triangle and preventing , which would leave White peeping at a bamboo joint. But now Black is pretty well connected, and White is shut into the corner.

Complex  

Bill: White can push through, but then things get complicated. Here is one possible continuation. Black might play at a, but I don't think that works.

Continued  

Bill: Next White may push out with and then Black will make something on the top side.

This is not so easy to assess, but may be good for White. Either side may have better play.

My earlier suggestion  

Bill: This is my earlier suggestion. The exchange, - , is not attractive, since is on the 4th line, and Black's corner is strengthened, but it does keep White from being shut into the corner. Now White pincers with .

The problem with it  

Bill: But now Black has - , threatening Ba for shape. prevents Ba, but now it is easy for Black to throw away. (And it still has some aji.)

Miai  

Bill: So now I'm back to one of my early thoughts. keeps White from being shut into the corner and makes miai of the top and left sides, without strengthening Black or leaving weaknesses behind.

Joseki  

Compare that with this joseki.