BQM 384

Bad for B  

is called a mistake, so far it is easy to understand.

recommended (1)  

So the book recommends and here, telling us, that the alternative in the next diagram is a mistake...

recommended (2)  

I understand the result, but not the sequence.

What is wrong with White 3?  

Why not this ? What should Black do here?

Tortoise shell with a tail  

unkx80: Get that tortoise shell with a tail. Black is incredibly thick, and the move is wasted.

corner  

Klaus White seems to get the corner and is safer than before. Is this good enough for Black? Maybe White can play a instead of for a firmer capture.

Dieter: I understand and even share your impression. However, with a closer look (and backed up by hindsight ..) White's corner is not that large: Black's monkey at b reduces it to a mere 12+ points. And the corner is not that thick either. Later, has a flavour of activating the corner aji: if unanswered by White, Black may reduce the corner further or even live inside.

In return for this not so big not so thick corner, White has given Black absolute thickness at the top centre. But I would expect / to be rather urgent.

Thickness  

Bill: How to handle thickness is a big subject. Like so many things, if you wait until you are good at it to try it, you will probably never learn how. In this case, as Dieter says, a Black play at a threatens to make use of the aji of the stone. Depending upon the play, there may be a threat to cut at b. Without the thickness, the Black play at a would not be as strong. Black also threatens to invade the top left corner, say at c. White's resulting thickness would be largely diminished by Black's current thickness. A Black play at d makes the threat of the invasion even bigger. So Black's thickness enhances that play, even if White then protects the corner. In general, Black makes use of thickness by enterprising play.