TheArtOf9x9Go/chie717

Darksniper Joseki  

Black beat White (3 Dan) by resignation. The opening of Moves 1-5 is a popular formation in high dan games, which follows the proverb "The purpose which Black sets on every move is to attack White."

Attack the weakest stone  

Attack the weakest stone, as did. also helps making strong, and weaken both groups of White.

Separation  

split Black into two groups. The lower group is now the weakest army; it is most urgent to help this group. There are three methods for helping a weak group. If you have a large space, you should jump. If you have another army of yours nearby, you should extend. If you are underemergeny and can be captured, you should connect your stones. Here, Black needs to jump. The question is where?

Standing  

helps and destroys the potential space of White in the middle left zone.

Powerless Blocking  

is a powerless blocking move because it jumps too far from its base, and is stronger than it looks because of the supporting army, . It would be good for Black if he will hane at a and allow to be cut from .

Trade off  

After the hane with , White manages to cut Black as predicted. The game seems balance and good for White.

m 16 Thank you  

White tries to push Black toward the upper zone, but the action is again powerless. Black will thankfully defend at a, which makes the upper zone a walled city. Now the points of both players look balance but the shape of Black looks more solid and secure than White's.

Wing opening  

White did a hane attack with , to claim the lower right zone and to get prepared for attacking the North East zone. Black is interested in cutting from .

Double attacks  

attacks both and . This is called killing two birds with one bullet. White needs to decide which group to help first. He thinks is weak and needless to prevent from it; he wants to help first.

To cut  

White chose to help the eastern army with . It is not clear whether could live. Cutting White at a would make weaker than , and would put the biggest white group in uncertainty.

Wing opening  

White saw the risk posted by , and answered with . Black is under pressure; he must prevent this army from being captured. The best way is to play sente attack at a, as is the weakest stone here. Then, widen the base by playing at b. This is called "Open your wings."

Collapsed ladder  

will fail to capture because Black has as the backing army that will make Black win the ladder race.

Counter capture  

will also fail to capture as Black can counter capture at a, following the proverb "Kill him before he kills you."

Certain answer  

White tried to help his big group by offering contact fighting, as done by . Fortunately, Black is ready to welcome any attack after the wing opening. Here, a is a certain answer.

Dead  

White also tried to open his wings with , but not good as the are very nearly dead. The learning point is that ""Don't help the dead stones as if they were to live again."

Kill  

From forwards, White has nothing to do except getting killed.

Ko  

White initiated a ko fight, which will not cause any major damage to Black.

No risk  

Never take a risk if you are leading, as shown by and .

Go ahead  

White has a fighter's spirit, hoping to kill this black group and then help the big white group. Black can destroy more White's space by playing at a before b. This is called "Attack before you defend."

Outscored  

The end of White. He was outscored and forced to resign with .