Taisha solid connection
This page deals with the standard pattern, following the complex variation of the taisha joseki (also known as taisha tobitsuke), where makes a solid connection. The other two major patterns are a, taisha nobi 1 and b taisha nobi 2.
Black 1 here has been played by some top players down the years (Shusai, Sekiyama Riichi, Hashimoto Utaro). The line continues with and
, and is thoroughly analysed in Ishida.
Black here is a pro play, though rarely used. Examples include Weon Seongjin (4p) vs Lee Yeongkyu (2p) in 2003 and Kubomatsu-Kitani in 1934. This is a pushing battle with a hamete in it. Black
may look as if it's easy to refute - but beware the two-stone edge squeeze!
After the squeeze, the white dumpling at the edge of the board is short on liberties, and it is Black's move. Black can capture all the white stones by playing a next.
Therefore is a mistake, and
is a blunder (white can at least salvage some corner territory by playing
at b instead).
According to Ishida, white should dodge away at instead of playing a. KataGo suggests that white can deviate earlier, with
at b or c instead.
That leaves these plays a and b from Ishida unaccounted for; they may be outright tricks. Analysis is given there for a; for b too but that was played differently 1974-06-06 by Hashimoto Utaro against Magari Reiki (game on Gobase).
Gobase also has a game 1973-10-31 between 1 dan pros Inoue Hatsue and Kimura Yoshio in which Black tries c.