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Plays Against Low Chinese Opening
  Difficulty: Dan level   Keywords: Question, Opening

[Diagram]
Diag.: my usual start

Recently I often have to play against the low chinese opening. Somehow I am always doing badly. What are good counter-strategies against this kind of opening?

Usually I play the sequence 1-4 but I'm not too happy with it as I have to invade around the marked point sooner or later which never turns out quite satisfactory.

--ArnoHollosi




[Diagram]
Diag.: How two 10 kyus might play (W10 connects, B11 at 'A')

I suppose it depends on your playing style. I often find it difficult to manage my own or reduce my opponents large territories, so I find myself often trying to play a fuseki which gives more, smaller, groups. Therefore, I would typically play what you call the invasion instead of the extension to 'a' on your diagram. At my level of play (10 kyu) a sequence like the one shown might follow, which leaves me as white quite happy, although in gote. If white later regains sente and is allowed to complete the lower side (e.g. 'b'), he should be very happy. --MortenPahle



To MortenPahle: I have make a comment on your reaction in TenKyuNadare. However, a first remark will be that 'c' (which I have added to your diagram) rather than 2 is black's normal answer in the Chinese Opening. That way the stone at 5 in Arno's diagram becomes well-positioned to make life hard for white's stones.


[Diagram]
Diag.: A proposal

To ArnoHollosi:

Although I will usually play the same against the Chinese Opening, if you are not satisfied with the result you can play as in this diagram (of course both white and black have different choices which are good). The advantage of this sequence might be that invading at the marked point here gives you slightly more room to work in than the invasion at the marked point in your diagram.

-- AndreEngels

I might add that in Go World this variation is listed as the more usual way of playing for White (I prefer it as well).. For Black, I can't say I particularly like 4. Approaching the bottom left corner (forcing white to play in the area which is open at the bottomm) or making a splitting play on the left side seems big. After 7, White is satisfied.

-- ChristianNentwich

However, in my experience this is not the more usual way of playing for Black. :-) When you play W 1 you have to be prepared for B to reply at 3 instead (I have found this the more common answer on IGS). Responding by playing at 2 is a bit problematic as the stone at 3 gives B good fighting resources here. Alternative plays at 'a' (trying to handle the original stone in lightly) and 'b' (willing to settle in the corner if necessary) are possible. --DaveSigaty



[Diagram]
Diag.: Lighter plays

You don't have to invade quite so deep. I've played this combination to break up the moyo before, which I got from "The Chinese Opening" by Kato Masao. Alternatively if black plays 2 at 3, you can play 3 at 2. He also suggests a reducing move like 'a'. --BlueWyvern

Kato also comments that answering at 2 is not so great for Black and recommends that black plays the corner enclosure at 3. After White 2, Black will fight. -- ChristianNentwich



Low Chinese, High Chinese or San ren sei - I play the same. -- HolIgor



[Diagram]
Diag.: The First Question

For people who do not like playing against the Chinese Fuseki (and the Kobayashi Fuseki as well) the first question is why not play an immediate approach against B's komoku? As soon as B plays in the lower corner the most likely result when W plays in the upper left is some version of the Chinese. So if you don't like it, what speaks against a preventive strike now with 1 or 'a'?

Why feel that playing in the remaining corner is the only choice? Consider the "Shusaku-style Fuseki". It would not exist if W had not been ready to leave the last corner empty in order to challenge B immediately and prevent him from forming a shimari in the upper right corner. This type of aggressive play was common when W received no komi.

I prefer the idea of playing 1 instead of 'a' in the diagram. If B plays in the upper left around 'b', then the situation reverts to my own hoshi mokuhazushi strategy - how could I argue with that? :-)


[Diagram]
Diag.: A Black Response

If B responds in the lower right, then both players are interested in taking sente in order to play first in the upper left. One such example is W's choice of 2 here in response to the pincer at 1. It is a common joseki that both aims at ending in sente and it supports the later invasion of the upper right side. If B responds with one of the common patterns at 3 and 5, W gets her wish and plays first in the upper left. There are many other choices for both players but one thing that B certainly can not do is revert to the Chinese Fuseki! :-)
--DaveSigaty



This is a copy of the living page "Plays Against Low Chinese Opening" at Sensei's Library.
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