BQM 577

In A Dictionary Of Modern Fuseki, The Korean Style, it is recommended not to play the Chinese Fuseki if White plays on Komoku like in the diagram. If Black continues with the Chinese, White can enclose the corner at a or b. This is considered to be good for White, unfortunately the analysis stops there already. Black can then split the left side, succesfully done by Nie Weiping. Can anyone come up with a more detailed strategy for White?

tapir: It just feels natural to approach before building the Chinese formation, which leads to different variations. And here my instinct is backed up by professional practice (an approach follows 97% of the games). There is a dozen games with in my database, however, and there is nothing to suggest that it is inferior. I added an imaginable follow-up diagram below and I couldn't say one side is ahead there after .

Slarty: I think the point is that with the Chinese formations, the biggest extension for black is on the lower side, not the top. A low white stone from the shimari there interferes with this, so the moyo strategy is unclear. Maybe the approach at is unecessary.

19x19 diagram  

19x19 diagram  

Liu Xiaoguang(w)_Nie Weiping(b)1990-11-21

19x19 diagram  

Qian Yuping(w)_Nie Weiping(b)1991-01-23 Qiwei Tournament

Possible follow-up - Who could say Black fell behind?