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Big Question Mark Problem 5
Again, this position is discussed in Sakata Eio's The Middle Game of Go and he recommends White play 6. My friend and I would like to know if there is anything wrong with playing at a? Thank you for your comments and suggestions. --MFM (16k* IGS) COMMENTS:
DaveSigaty: Let's assume that W plays 1 and that B replies at 2 which is the place that W played 6 in the original diagram. If W connects in reply to 4, she is almost completely safe but meanwhile B has connected around W's group. True the left side is still open but this is much better than the situation in the original diagram where W is looking to attack the B stones on the left based exactly on the strength of the stone at 6. I think that Sakata is recommending his 6 because he thinks the W stones are strong. The alternative of 'a' is played with the idea that they are weak.
Dieter Verhofstadt (2k): White plays 6 because she doesn't want to be surrounded. White 6 breaks through the black lines and weakens the marked lone black stone, thus reinforcing the white position. On a large scale, it splits black's position, and the marked black wall isn't half as strong as when there would be a black stone at 6. I agree with Dave that Black will answer at 6 if white plays at a, but I disagree that the white stones are strong as they stand. And white 'a' doesn't strengthen them either. The white stones are in Black's sphere of influence (moyo) and have not too good a shape. Breaking through the surrounding black position with 6 does strengthen them a great deal though. Another reason why white a is not a good move: if it were, then very likely 'a' would be a good move for black too. But black 'a' is quite useless: he can't cut the white stones, because he is short of liberties, thanks to white's nice play at 6 , as the following diagram shows (starting with white 1 at 6 in the previous diagram):
The marked black stone is now very weak, white is connected, and the black attack has only given him an overconcentrated group in what used to be his sphere of influence. To worsen things, the black wall on the left now lies in white's sphere of influence, instead of the other way round.
All of my commentary is a mere attempt to grasp the wisdom of Sakata, and should be read with criticism. If someone disagrees (or doesn't understand, for that matter), please say so. This is a copy of the living page "Big Question Mark Problem 5" at Sensei's Library. (C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0. |