BQM 30

Difficult joseki or trick sequence?  

The game continued something like this:

Game continuation  

I didn't want to play for obvious reasons, but couldn't find better moves at that time.

Black a and b interesting points?  

Now I am thinking of something like Black a to protect against the cut and the ladder, and perhaps at b to threaten to capture the marked stones.

But the move order (and the right moves as well :) is not clear. It is clear that in the previous diagram was bad - I knew it when I played it, but couldn't really figure out anything better either.

Any ideas anyone? (Or preferably a clearcut solution :)

Solved?  

I analyzed the position a bit more myself and and came to a conclusion, that Black must cut, since in the (Ishida) joseki variations White defends the cutting point.

Solved? (continued)  

After these moves it looks like Black has to sacrifice the stones?

Corner life and death is not my forte, so... (White plays to reduce the number of liberties of the three black stones).

Solved? (continued 2)  

I fail to see how Black could live with the stones, so perhaps the following is best Black can do. At least he is very thick.

Not solved?  

Funny how the mind works, now I see the interesting move of , and who knows where that will lead...aaargh... I guess I'll never be more than a 2k*...

Ah, this seems to be the best for Black, and bad for White. Finally. I have come to this conclusion but unfortunately the full solution is too long to be included in the margin and it is already past 3 a.m. local time, so perhaps I'll just say that I came to the 2k* conclusion that White cannot now play at b; and a gives Black a magnificent result. Work out the variations by yourself, I am too tired.

Not solved? (continued)  

I don't see what 'magnificent result' you are seeing after .

There are a few variations here, but all of them end with White capturing the three stones, and Black having more cutting points than he can handle.

Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A1)  

After Black connects, goes after Black's stones, and now .

Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A1a)  

This is a typical continuation. Black retains aji in the corner.

Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A2)  

takes with good aji, but loses sente.

Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A3a)  

If - take two black stones, is too good.

Difficult joseki or trick sequence? (A3b)  

If threatens Black's stones, Black is happy to make a deal with .

Moves 11 to 20  

Robert Pauli: ? ? could be at right away. one lower would prevent geta on the outside, even if it suffers from White coming in at 2-2 later.