Kikashi and influence

    Keywords: Strategy

Kikashi and influence

This is a spin-off of the discussion about thickness

AlainWettach: There is a close relation between thickness/thinness and kikashi plays. This brings us to the complex question of good and bad forcing moves (usually only the good forcing moves are called kikashis). A real kikashi shouldn't make the opponent's thin group thicker. Kikashis are usually played against strong groups. Just an example:

[Diagram]
A good kikashi  

This is a common 4-5 point joseki and white+circle is a good kikashi. Black should answer it with black+circle.

It doesn't make the black group thicker, since White couldn't cut anyway and it has some influence for white (it might break a ladder for instance) even if the marked stone cannot be considered as "thick". So this shows that even "weak stones" or, in this case "light stones", have influence. Here White wins 1 in terms of influence and loses 0 in terms of potential.

Shouldn't black answer at a, rather than black+circle (in most contexts)?

Probably not - see [1]


[Diagram]
A bad forcing move  

In this position, B1 would be a bad forcing move (a thank-you move). Of course, the stone is not completely wasted since it exerts some influence (it could be a ladder breaker for instance), but Black could and should have cut. This means that the peep makes White thicker since she won't have to worry about being cut whatever Black plays in the area. One could say that B1 wins 1 in influence and loses a lot in terms of potential.


MortenPahle asks:

A group which is alive if you answer kikashis by the opponent is not as thick as a group which does not have to answer kikashis, and A real kikashi shouldn't make the opponent's thin group thicker.

I agree with both these statements, but there is an inconsistency between them, no? If the group which has a kikashi played against is thick enough to ignore the kikashi, we agree that the kikashi was just a wasted move. But, if the group is so thin that it needs to answer the kikashi, the group will, per definition, become thicker afterwards. So I think that a kikashi will always make the 'kikashi'ed group thicker. Of course, a good kikashi should gain more than it loses, but I think that this assessment is very difficult to make sometimes (and very rarely 'black and white'). -- MortenPahle


AlainWettach answers Morten, you are right, it might seem contradictory. In a way, even good kikashis make the opponent "thicker". What I wanted to point out is that forcing moves which kill potential on "really thin" groups (those you might want to attack later) should not be played. Another concept which should also be taken into consideration is light/heaviness.

It is often a good idea to refrain from playing forcing moves if you think that, by doing so, you lose potential you might use later in the game. A good example for this is the peep against a one-point jump.

[Diagram]
Two forcing moves possible  

In this example, Black might peep at a or b, but it is impossible at this stage to say which one is better. So, it is better not to play either of a or b and to await the right moment.


[Diagram]
Thicker, but also heavier  

W2 is a classical example of a forcing move against a more or less "thin" group in order to make it heavier (but also thicker).

In some cases, the border between thick and heavy is very difficult to see, even for the pros!

AlainWettach


Charles Matthews --

  • The point of playing kikashi against a weak group is to make it heavy, that is, harder to sacrifice; the weak group will probably become a little stronger, but less flexible.
  • The point of playing kikashi against a strong group is as a type of probe; later in the fighting you might get a different answer.

If one considers weak groups as possessing some type of negative influence, this discussion might be clarified.

  • Negative influence means the 'need to defend' (negated form of 'possibility to attack' given by influence).
  • QARTS analysis means counting lack of eye shape as negative territory.
  • Flexibility in defence means ability to sacrifice some or all of a weak group.

So a kikashi against a weak group that makes it heavier, reduces its eye shape, and forces a rigid shape on it is probably good.

[Diagram]
Answers to Black's peep  

In this case, if White has to answer B1 at a it seems that all three purposes are fulfilled. But if is possible for White to play at b, taking account of the overall position and perhaps sacrificing some stones, that isn't so clear.


[1]

[Diagram]
Resistance?  

Paul Clarke: If Black plays B1 instead of 'a', White can capture a stone in sente with this sequence. If Black had connected at 'a' then the sequence would be gote for White, so B1 gains a little in the centre but loses points on the edge. I think the balance is in White's favour. White also has the option of exchanging White 5 for Black 'a', though this is unlikely to be good early in the game.

Andrew Grant: This kikashi is part of the joseki precisely because in isolation it has to be answered by connecting, to avoid giving White the sente capture. Later in the game, if Black starts to build a moyo on the left, it might be better for him to play B1 instead. Therefore White should play the kikashi early to ensure that she gets the submissive answer she wants.

[Diagram]
Another possibility  

Paul Clarke: White could also cut with this sequence. If Black wants to avoid this he has to play B2 at W3 or 'a', allowing W2.

Clever. Thanks for explaining that.


Kikashi and influence last edited by Unkx80 on April 16, 2004 - 16:34
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