[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]

RecentChanges
StartingPoints
About


Referenced by
BQM21Prologue

 

B Q M 21 Bottom Side
   

DaveSigaty: A major issue in this game is who plays first on the lower side and where? In the game W played first - an ikkentobi straight up. Was this the best choice for W? What would have happened if B had played first?



[Diagram]
Diag.: Black plays first

Black wants to attack the two white stones from the right, driving them away from B's weak stone and into his thickness. Trying the direct approach with 1, however, seems to have a hole in it when W springs the combo of 2 and 4. So what should B do instead?



[Diagram]
Diag.: White plays first

DaveSigaty: I am most interested in whether White can get away with the capping play at 1. If W can force B to live along the edge, then not only will she save her two stones but she is likely to get the opportunity to play around both of the points marked 'a' as well. The one on the right will help secure W's corner while the one on the left will undermine B's corner. This would be an outstanding result for W despite the fact that B would live along the side. So how should B fight back?

HolIgor: Are not these two diargams related? The answer of one depends on the other. If white can get away on the diagram above, W 1 on the lower diagram only helps. And if white thinks that W 1 on the lower diagram is desirable, should not black consider this point too? Of course, this attack if from far, but is will help black to invade the right corner as well.

I think that exchange 2 for 3 on the upper diagram is very good for black. He may be content. The corner is safe, ikken tobi easy and attacking. All groups are safe and yet white are not connected.


BillSpight: My original feeling was that the bottom is urgent. I think that Dave's boshi is severe. (As Black I don't try to live on the side, however. Might as well give up!)


[Diagram]
Diag.: Ikken tobi.

The trouble with an ikken tobi is that White can simply run out, too, and has friends nearby (marked). Also, Black's corner has some bad aji, and Black can't feel good about letting it get hemmed in.

What about a Black boshi?


[Diagram]
Diag.: Boshi

The general idea is for both sides to run out, and reduce White's potential on the right in the process. W a - B 4 would play into Black's hands. So the play might go as in the diagram, with a difficult fight.




This is a copy of the living page "B Q M 21 Bottom Side" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.