BQM 467

    Keywords: Question
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19x19 diagram  

Tamsin: Any thoughts on how to deal with a shoulder hit in a position like this?

This kind of position (this is a made-up example) has occurred in my games recently, and on each occasion I was unable to work out how best to proceed when reviewing.

For instance,

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19x19 diagram  

this line is normal in the case of an enclosure from a 3-4 point, but it seems out of tune when you have a wall. But I would find it hard to bring myself to play 2 defensively on the third line, and I cannot see any reasonable way to resist, either. I suppose you shouldn`t be extending on the third line from a 4-4 point wall in the first place, but it`s the kind of thing that can seem like a good idea at the time.

Would it be altogether unreasonable for Black just to keep on pushing?

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19x19 diagram  

Please help!

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19x19 diagram  

unkx80: First comment. The shoulder hit exposes the weakness of black+circle being in the third line. To avoid the shoulder hit, have black+circle at a instead.

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19x19 diagram  

unkx80: Second comment. If the context allows, you may also consider attacking moves such as this. Of course, other attacking sequences are possible as well.

tapir: I reckon this shape is quite common, does it have a name, a SL page?

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19x19 diagram  

Andy: Actually Guo Juan commented a high-dan amateur game on KGS recently with exactly this kind of position. White's W1 erasure is perfect, and you don't have a good reply to it. This means you went wrong earlier when you lost sente to allow W1 in the first place. If instead you had got a move in at a, the game is completely different, and there's not any move elsewhere on the bottom half of the board likely to be big enough for you to not make this move. However, now that W1 is on the board, I'd use thickness to attack, starting with the capping move B2. Just my 2kyu worth.

Bill: The boshi was my first thought, as well. :)

Velobici: Very interesting to hear a professional's, in this case Guo Juan's, reaction. Attacking and Defending Moyos begins with thirteen basic principles. The first one (page 2) is 1. Reduce a moyo by playing no further into it than its outer rim. From the examples in the book, White should play no deeper than b or c. There is the principle 10. Make a deep invasion only if you can end up with a secure group but the examples are 3-3 invasions under a 4-4 stone. Another principle 11. Make a deep invasion into your opponent's moyo only if there are defects that you can exploit does not appear (to me) to apply as the black stones on both the right and the left are solid.

Tamsin: Thanks for your replies! I suppose this explains why the following shape is not seen very often:

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19x19 diagram  

I know you can play it, but the shoulder hit seems to lurk in the shadows.

Bill: Not to mention the boshi. :)


BQM 467 last edited by velobici on September 20, 2010 - 03:02
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