Avalanche

PageType: Path     Keywords: Joseki, Go term

Chinese: 雪崩 (xue3 beng1)
Japanese: ナダレ (nadare)
Korean: 눈사태

[Diagram]
Avalanche joseki  

The avalanche or nadare is one of the most famous corner joseki. It arises from 3-4 point, high approach, inside contact. The diagram position leads to the avalanche patterns. The name refers to the shape resembling an avalanche (see diagram upside down).

This corner joseki used to be considered to give equal results for both players (despite the hane at the head of White's stones). However, AI analysis (as of October 2018) seems to indicate that the position is generally unfavorable for White.

Of the several variants, the large avalanche is the most famous for its complexity. This variation has many subvariations that can grow to cover over a third of the board. The other variants typically end up with White getting outside influence. With the exception of small avalanche, the influence will face towards the right side, and White will end up in gote. Therefore, the avalanche is usually played when White has a position at the upper-right corner (e.g., a White stone at the 4-4 point), and is not played when Black has a stone at the top-middle star point.

Large avalanche Small avalanche
[Diagram]
Variations  
[Diagram]
Large avalanche  

The large avalanche joseki begins with the hane at B9. It starts a number of complicated variations. See large avalanche for these. If either player wants to avoid these complications, White can play at a or play tenuki (move elsewhere) with W8, or Black can play at a or b with B9. These are described in large avalanche simple variations.

[Diagram]
Small avalanche  

With B7, Black starts the small avalanche. See small avalanche for the continuations.

[Diagram]
A simple variation  

B7 is advisable for those players who are not comfortable with their knowledge of the avalanche joseki. Black steers the joseki to a simple variation without giving in in any way - the result is equal. See avalanche - connection.

[Diagram]
Double hane  

The next variant of the avalanche is when Black plays the double hane of B7 in this diagram. Traditionally, the answer to this move has been a, after which usually Black will try to get influence down the left side, but nowadays the white extension at b is gaining popularity. For the double hane variation, see avalanche - double hane.

[Diagram]
Descent  

B7 is similar to black a in that it is peaceful and takes territory. For this variation, see avalanche - descent.


[Diagram]
Mistake  

W6 here would be a mistake. After B7, White has no good move.

Nadare Joseki

[Diagram]
Nadare  

[1] Strictly speaking the "avalanche joseki" only applies when Black hanes at B4 here:

[Diagram]
Small Avalanche Joseki  



or B6 here

[Diagram]
Large Avalanche Joseki  




Avalanche last edited by 82.27.183.33 on September 1, 2022 - 10:58
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